SEVEN of the Island’s finest heifers will be given to King Charles III during Monday’s royal visit.
The Jersey cows, representing a cross-section of breeding from leading herds in the Island, were originally due to be presented by the Jersey Milk Marketing Board and the Royal Jersey Agricultural and Horticultural Society to the late Queen to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee in 2022.
Following King Charles’ accession to the throne, arrangements were in hand to ship the animals to Windsor when, in December last year, one Jersey farm lost 112 cows, a significant proportion of its milking herd.
As the Island does not allow the importation of live animals, the loss could only be replaced by retaining milking stock and in-calf heifers, with members of the JMMB pledging animals to help the affected herd restock as quickly as possible.
Informed of the loss, the King gave back the seven heifers to assist with the restocking programme, in support of the Island’s dairy farming community.
With restocking now completed, the JMMB and the RJA&HS are proceeding with their gift to the Sovereign and, at the King’s request, the cattle will join the herd at Home Farm, run by Duchy of Cornwall tenant farmer Henry James Gay who made a visit to the Island recently to choose the heifers that will live alongside his organic herd of Ayrshire Cows.
Since retiring as chairman of the Jersey Milk Marketing Board in 2022, Andrew Le Gallais has continued to work closely with the Crown Estate on the project.
He said: “Thanks to the hard work and dedication of all at Woodlands Farm in St Helier, the Le Boutillier herd is now fully restocked, and we are delighted we’re now able to fulfil the gift intended for His Majesty, and look forward to working with Henry and his father, Colston, to help them build the herd of Jersey cows.”
