Laurence Le Ruez, of St Peter, who along with his brothers John and the late Francis built up a worldwide reputation for breeding and exporting prize cattle, dismissed a report presented last month to the RJAHS.He said that eminent geneticist Dr Maurice Bichard’s report was a waste of money.
The author recommended revoking the 240-year-old ban on importing Jersey cattle semen from elsewhere.
If this was considered too radical, Dr Bichard suggested an alternative of adopting a common improvement programme for the Island herd.’I’ve been a breeder all my life,’ said Mr Le Ruez.
‘They’ve tried this caper before, and it was thrown out by the States and that was a good thing.
It would destroy the Jersey breed completely.
They must never introduce semen of any kind into the Island.’The last time the idea of scrapping the ban on cattle imports was debated, Mr Le Ruez’s brother Francis led the successful campaign to maintain the status quo.
