A Gift of Seven Jersey Heifers for His Majesty

A group of seven Jersey heifers, which represent an outstanding cross section of breeding from the leading herds in the Island, are to be gifted to His Majesty The King during a visit by Their Majesties to the Island next week.

The heifers were originally due to be presented in 2022, by the Jersey Milk Marketing Board (JMMB) and the Royal Jersey Agricultural & Horticultural Society (RJA&HS) to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee.

Following the accession to the throne of His Majesty The King, arrangements were in hand for the shipping of the animals to Windsor, when, in December 2022, one of the leading herds in the Island suffered the tragic loss of a significant proportion of their milking herd.  The loss of milk supply, in an Island which does not allow for the importation of live animals, can only be replaced by retaining milking stock and in-calf heifers.  The challenge this presented to the JMMB, as the Island’s milk co-operative, was met by the members who pledged animals to help the affected herd restock as quickly as possible.   

His Majesty, was informed of the loss of cattle on the Island and the efforts of the members of the co-operative and The King graciously gifted back the seven heifers to assist with the re-stocking programme, in support of the dairy farming community in the Island.

Now that the Islands herds are restocked, The Jersey Milk Marketing Board (JMMB) and the Royal Jersey Agricultural & Horticultural Society are regifting seven some Jersey heifers to the Sovereign.  As the Jersey Herd at Windsor is complete, His Majesty has kindly asked that the cattle be given to ‘Home Farm’ which forms part of the Highgrove Estate and is run by a Duchy of Cornwall tenant farmer Henry James Gay.  Henry James Gay, 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 MBE has continued to work closely with the Crown Estate, 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 honour the gift intended for His Majesty and we look forward to working with Henry and his father Colston to help them build the herd of Jersey cows.” 

(L-R) Paul Bell – Trinity Manor, Phil Le Maistre – Chairman of Jersey Dairy, Henry James Gay – Duchy of Cornwall tenant farmer and Colston Gay – Henry’s father, meet with the farm team at Trinity Manor – one of the seven farms gifting a heifer.