GUERNSEY cow breeders from across the world are in the island to meet and visit local farmers. The trip is part of the World Guernsey Cattle Federation conference, which is held every three years, this year in the British Isles.

The farmers from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada and the United States will discuss ways in which to protect the unique breed and share farming methods.

‘We are delighted with the way it is going and are lucky to have so many people who want to make the pilgrimage to look at and talk about Guernsey cows,’ said Bill Luff, the Royal Guernsey Agricultural and Horticultural Society vice-president and federation secretary.

John Ayars is one of the most successful show men of the Guernsey cow in the US and a renowned judge. He has been doing both for 50 years. He grew up with Guernsey cows, but also owns three other breeds at his farm, the Land of Living Farm, in Ohio.

‘It is always extremely interesting to see how other people live and to come to the place where the cow originated is extremely exciting,’ he said.

‘There are no other people that are better to breed with and whenever Guernsey is brought up, there are always a number of people who would like to visit, but are limited by distance and cost.’

Mr Ayars said that the breed had taken a serious hit in the last 25 years, but that the farmers wanted to ride out the bad times.

‘The cattle here in the island are nice because they have more uniformity. Our top is very good, but our poor is near bottom, so there needs to be a management of both.’

Seven dairies from America are represented on the visit. They include Leon Zweegman’s farm in the north-west corner of the country, a mile from Canada.

Guernsey cattle have been in his family for 80 years and are considered one of the top breeds worldwide. He also keeps Friesians and mixes the two milks – the Friesians give more.

‘I love the Guernsey herds and hopefully we are helping the breed, if we weren’t they would be long gone,’ he said.

Tina White started Whitegrove Farm in British Columbia with her husband, Peter, after emigrating from Yorkshire. They have 20 Guernsey cows and 80 Holsteins.

She said that the herd used to be more popular because farmers were paid a better price for the higher butterfat, but now people do not want that level of fat.

‘We all have some concerns and people are doing different breeding techniques to make the breed stronger, but they are such lovely, docile animals.’

They keep their cows in a barn and she said it was nice to see them out in the fields.

The first farm visit was to see Carole Allett’s Myrtle herd in St Saviour’s, with 50 cows, which is the first in the island to have a cellar under the shed for the storage of silage.

‘Farming is more specialised now and there are fewer, but they are larger,’ she said.

The visitors leave the island tomorrow and will have seen eight herds.