ROSLYN VALE JERSEY COWS .....In the beginning
The ROSLYN VALE property at Myponga, South Australia, now
owned by Barry & Merridie Clarke was purchased by Merridie's Grandfather in
1934 as a total scrub block. The first Jersey cattle were purchased from
the Glen Ewin Stud in 1938 and a large percentage of the present Jersey herd
were bred from these cattle.
Merridie's Grandfather & Grandmother, Ken & Dora Whitford were both artists and they frequently visited the Fleurieu Peninsular at weekends in search of subjects to paint, but eventually purchased the property. Little income was derived from the property until more acreage was cleared when Merridie's Father and Uncle left school and brought the property to high capacity production.
Ken once said to a local resident, 'How many cows could the property carry?' and the reply was, 'Probably 20, but if you want to feed them properly, a dozen!' However, at present the 80 hectare property, of which much is irrigated from 2 bores, carries approximately 250 head.
'Roslyn Vale' has had the honour of being the top production Jersey Herd in Australasia on several occasions. Bulls were purchased from New Zealand in the early 1970's and later from some of the top production cows in Australia. More recently, over the past 20 years, A.I bulls from America and Canada have been used. Most of the cattle in the herd of late, have been tested for the A2 gene and more than half of the herd carry that gene.
Recently, an ex-Myponga boy, Professor Tim Roberts, from the University of Newcastle has made contact, expressing interest in the qualities of A2 milk in relation to assisting relief from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia and Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Recently,
after much research, planning and complying with regulated requirements,
three couples, namely Geoffrey & Louise Hutchinson, Barry & Merridie Clarke
and Chris & Karen Royans, registered the 'Fleurieu Milk Company' and began
packaging a variety of milk from Fresian cows and A2 tested Jersey cows.
Homogenised, unhomogenised, full cream, low fat and A2 tested Jersey, is the
range of the Fleurieu Milk labels in 2 litre and 1litre plastic containers,
1.5 litre glass bottles and more recently our new joint venture with Monjava
Coffee, Iced coffee in 2 litre and 500ml plastic containers..
This product is now marketed and in demand, widely on the Fleurieu Peninsular, including Kangaroo Island and also a market has been established in Sydney, Alice Springs and Darwin.
The
company's greatest resource in this quest in the quality of it's heard-
Holstein Friesians for it's main milk range and Jerseys for its premium and
A2.
