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38 Years Promoting and Sponsoring Jersey Research

February 2005

Research and development is the life-blood of a growing, competitive business. In large measure, the current vitality of the Jersey business is owed to strategic investments in basic research by the AJCC Research Foundation.

The AJCC Research Foundation is operated exclusively for the purpose of promoting and sponsoring scientific research for the advancement of dairy technology and the dairy industry. Since 1967, it has provided seed money for well-designed projects related to high-priority areas that affect the Jersey breed.

The idea of a permanent fund to promote and sponsor Jersey-specific research dates to early 1966. Paul Harber, a director of the American Jersey Cattle Club and chair of its Finance Committee, is given credit for the idea, which was quickly endorsed by the aptly-named Idea Committee. Within a year, a trust agreement had been approved by the Board and submitted to the Internal Revenue Service for approval as a charitable organization under the provisions of Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code. Thus contributions to the fund are deductible from taxable income to the extent allowed by law.

With just 12 individuals contributing cash and securities valued at $9,195.63 in its first four years, the Foundation had very modest means at its disposal. Even so, it funded research at the University of Kentucky on mineral requirements to prevent milk fever and work at Utah State and Kansas State on the inheritance of two genetic abnormalities, Limber Legs (LL) and Rectovaginal Constriction (RVC).

Several large contributions in the 1980s helped build the Foundation to a point where it generated enough income to fund more than one or two projects each year. In December of 1980, Mrs. T. H. Carruthers III, owner of Hetherington Jerseys, Cincinnati, Ohio, gave the Foundation 350 shares of Procter & Gamble stock, valued at over $25,000. It was the largest single contribution made to that point in time, and she matched it one year later with a second gift of 350 shares of P&G stock.

In 1985, the retirement of J. F. Cavanaugh prompted creation of a research fund in his name, garnering contributions of $120,000 which were added to the Foundation. At the end of 1988, the endowment stood at $275,000, a nice sum but still not generating the desired level of interest income.

A campaign to build the fund to $1,000,000 was begun in 1988. That campaign’s success resulted in the Foundation being able to issue over $395,000 in grants for 78 studies from 1991 to 2000. Among these were numerous calf raising studies at the UT-Lewisburg Experiment Station by J. D. Quigley, and Ed Jaster at the University of Illinois; milk fever and its treatment by Jesse Goff at the National Animal Disease Center; mastitis resistance and prophylactic methods for Jersey heifers by Stephen Oliver at the University Tennessee; relationships between type and health traits by Gary Rogers, at Penn State; copper toxicity research by Roger Hemken, University of Kentucky; maintaining genetic diversity with intensive yield selection by Ben T. McDaniel, North Carolina State University; and evaluation of Jersey vs. Holstein profitability under fat-skim and multiple component pricing by Robert Yonkers, while at Penn State. Other investments were made in studies that improved genetic selection tools (e.g., Production Type Index) and helped establish Jersey standards for the NRC nutrition requirements.

The investment portfolio has not performed as well in the 2001–04 period, but the Foundation still been able to fund 23 studies for a total of $113,580 in the past four funding cycles.

The funding priorities for 2005 remain unchanged from previous years:

• Nutrition of high-producing Jerseys, particularly practical feeding methods to maximize production of valuable milk components;
• Factors affecting yield of products manufactured from Jersey milk;
• Factors affecting net income, longevity, and lifetime profit;
• Breeding plans to optimize genetic gain while maintaining genetic diversity;
• Biological and economic efficiencies of Jerseys; and,
• Factors affecting management of Jersey calves.

Foundation Receives Nearly $40,000 In Gifts

In 2004, the AJCC Research Foundation received gifts totaling $38,327 from 17 contributors, the largest being a Research Builder ($5,000–$9,999) gift from Bush River Jerseys, Newberry, S.C., owned by Dr. J. J. Malnati and Richard A. Doran, Jr. This contribution represents Bush River’s ownership percentage of the proceeds from the sale of Arco-BRJ Jace Boulreguard, great-grandson of Duncan Belle, winner of the 2000 Jersey Journal Great Cow Contest. The bull was syndicated at the Deep South/Southeast Heifer Growers South Sale last April.

Dr. Malnati was among the first individuals to contribute to the Research Foundation after it was established in 1967. He has been a Patron ($25,000–$49,999) contributor since 1995 when he pledged $35,000 to the Foundation.

Clint Collins, III of Arco Farms, Sylacauga, Ala., also contributed proceeds from the sale of Arco-BRJ Jace Boulreguard. Added to his previous contributions, Collins is now a member of the Research Builders (total contributions of $5,000–$9,999).

A current Research Builder, the Ohio Jersey Breeders Association, presented a check for $1,000 to the Foundation in 2004, bringing its contributions over the past two years to $6,000.

New to the major donor list in 2004 were the Minnesota Jersey Cattle Club and Vermont Jersey Breeders Association. The gifts of $5,000 each qualified both organizations for Research Builder recognition.

One Research Pioneer gift ($2,500–$4,999) was received in 2004, from the current president of the American Jersey Cattle Association, Donald S. Sherman, and his wife, Elsa, owners of D&E Jerseys, Hilmar, Calif.

A 2004 gift from previous contributors David and Linda Spahr, Findlay, Ohio, moved them into the Research Pioneer category. Spahr was president of the Jersey association from 1986 to 1989, and since 2002 has been chair of the AJCC Research Foundation’s fundraising campaign.

Five individuals made Research Promoter ($1,000–$2,499) contributions: Jennifer and Richard Avila, Hilmar, Calif.; Ray Churchill, Brookfield, Vt., in memory of his father Robert; Allen and Bonnie Kracht, Newton, Wis.; Kelvin Moss, Mountain Shadow Dairy, Litchfield Park, Ariz.; and Wickstrom Brothers, also of Hilmar, Calif.

Friends of Jersey Research contributors during 2004 included James and Carol Ahlem, Hilmar, Calif; Norman H. Martin, Tillamook, Ore.; Wickstrom Jersey Farms Inc., Hilmar, Calif., as memorials to Jean Wilk and Barbara Howard; Katherine L. Lee, McBain, Mich.; and Will-Do Jerseys, Kinards, S.C.

The Foundation has already received the first cash gift of 2005, a continuing gift from Research Pioneers William and Doris Johnson of Manassas, Va.

Gifts are accepted by the Foundation throughout the year and fall into three categories: outright donations and memorials, planned gifts and bequests. To make your gift, contact the AJCC Research Foundation, 6486 E. Main Street, Reynoldsburg, OH 43068. To discuss a pledge or bequest, contact either of the trustees, AJCA Executive Secretary Neal Smith or Treasurer Vickie White, at 614/861-3636.