Dairy cattle (FOI)

Request

Please provide the following information:

A

The number of dairy cattle on the island for each of the last five years.

B

Milk production levels (island total and average per cow) for each of the last five years.

C

The number of cross bred Jerseys on the island for each of the last five years.

D

Since the importation of dairy semen, by how much has production per cow increased?

E

Details of any local research or projects designed to mitigate the effects of global warming through methane emissions.

F

Details of any local research conducted into the feasibility of a methane tax or similar.

Response

A

The information up to 2015 is published on gov.je on page 27 of the agricultural statistics report:

Agricultural Statistics 2015

Information relating to 2016 is not yet published on line and is therefore set out below:

• total cows and heifers in milk: 2731

• heifers over 24 months: 191

• heifers 12 to 24 months: 765

• heifers under 12 months: 811

• bulls over 24 months: 13

• bulls under 24 months: 36

• beef animals over 12 months: 164

• beef animals under 12 months: 164

• other: 64

• total: 4939

B
The information up to 2015 is published on gov.je on page 27 of the agricultural statistics report. A link to this report can be found above, in the response to request 1.

Information relating to 2016 is not currently held by the department. It is anticipated however that the department will be in receipt of this data toward the end of July. Once the data is received it will be published on www.gov.je under the 2016 agricultural statistics.

C
The Department of the Environment does not record the number of cross bred Jerseys only beef animals. The information may be held by the Royal Jersey Agricultural & Horticultural Society and you may wish to re-direct this part of your request to Jersey Island Genetics at genetics@royaljersey.co.uk

D
This information is published on gov.je on page 25 in the agricultural statistics report. A link to this report can be found above, in the response to request 1.

E
Information on all the actions to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions are contained in the published Pathway 2050 Energy Plan for Jersey:

Pathway 2050: An Energy Plan for Jersey

Further information with regards to the agricultural sector is provided in the published Rural Economy Strategy:

Rural Economy Strategy 2017 to 2021; Towards Sustainable Farming

Information on methane emissions is available from the Jersey greenhouse gas emissions infographic:

Greenhouse gas emissions

F

No research has been undertaken by the Department of the Environment on a methane tax or fiscal mechanism linked to methane emissions.