JISEX International – the company
Jersey Island Semen Exports Limited, known widely as JISEX International, was the original artificial insemination company in the Island of Jersey, home of the Jersey breed. The business was formed in 1968 as the Jersey Artificial Insemination Centre Limited, heralding the introduction of A.I. in Jersey.
1974 was a pivotal year for the company when the local A.I. operation was sold to Jersey’s government, leaving JISEX to concentrate on the promotion and marketing of semen and live cattle overseas.
Ten years later, having supplied Jersey’s bovine genetics to more than 40 countries, JISEX assumed its “International” role by importing Jersey bull semen into the United Kingdom and expanding the service to British Jersey farmers by sourcing some of the world’s leading sires.
The past twenty years has seen enormous changes in world dairying, and especially in animal breeding. Wearing a “global hat”, JISEX International Director, Derrick Frigot, has visited some 45 countries to study the Jersey breed, and the knowledge gained has been used to the advantage of British breeding. Working for JISEX International for seventeen years (1985-2002) was Alan Cowdrey, RVM, the former Herd Manager for Her Majesty the Queen’s famous ‘Windsor” herd. His reputation as a breeder of Jersey cattle was renowned. He brought a lifetime of Jersey cattle breeding experience to the company and together with Derrick Frigot helped many British dairymen to develop their herds.
The importation of some of the world’s finest sires by JISEX International has influenced the British herd to its all-time high level of production and dairy type. Today, the breed is gaining popularity with dairymen in Great Britain because of its high component production from cows that are designed for today’s dairy practices, with improved health traits and physical conformation.
Today, JISEX International is the main provider of international Jersey sires to British dairy farmers, working closely with global A.I. companies and individual breeders to bring leading proven sires and a range of well-bred young sires to Britain shores.
The company also continues to export semen globally as well as providing a service of buying and selling Jerseys on the hoof in the United Kingdom.