Havdal Jersey farm is located in Søften a few kilometres outside Denmark’s second largest city, Aarhus. Jørn Mikkelsen and his daughter, Mette, own and run this prosperous dairy farm where the speciality is fresh Jersey milk and home-made ice cream.
Mikkelsen took over the Havdal Jersey Farm from his parents in 1985. At that time, the farm had 40 Jersey cows on an area of 35 hectares. Now, more than three decades later, the farm has a herd of 100 Jersey cows and an area of 115 ha. Mikkelsen has the main responsibility for the farm and cows, while Mette takes care of the business which includes sales of fresh milk and home made ice cream.
“Breeding has always been important to me,” Mikkelsen says. His enthusiasm about the kind of cow he wants to have on his dairy farm is firmly established as he is also a board member of the Danish Jersey Association.
“My main focus regarding breeding strategy, right now, is to increase production as well as achieving better udder health and udder quality for my cows,” he says.
He is also keen on selecting long-lived cows. “Longevity is also very important,” he says. And the fact that he has a low replacement rate of 25% backs up this statement.
