Holsteins. Jerseys. Brown Swiss. These are pretty familiar dairy breeds. But one breed in Wisconsin that’s not as well known is the Kerry breed. The Kerry are one of the oldest dairy breeds and originate from Ireland.
One of only two rare dairy herds of Celtic Kerry cows call Grace Acres Farms home. JT Price, owner of Grace Acres explains more about this unique breed. But first he shares how he got into raising them.
“I grew up on a farm in South Carolina and I’ve always loved cattle,” says Price. “I went to vet school and learned a lot about genetics and rare breeds. Also, I have Irish roots myself and have heard of the Kerrys and was lucky enough to find one to start my herd.”
The Kerry breed are naturally a black colored cow. Their genetics go back for thousands of years to the Roman empire. Dairy cattle that are more well known in Wisconsin are fed silage and generally kept in a freestall barn. However the Kerry breed is known for making grass into protein.
Price adds, “They also are known to last longer in a herd as they can last into their early 20s. They carry the A2 protein and the fat globules are much smaller, making it easier to digest.”
Grace Acres Farms is the only farm in the Midwest with Kerry cows. There are only three herds of Kerry here in the North American continent. Because of this, Price says they are very selective when it comes to breeding. He is currently working on a project to collect embryos and create an inventory to help grow the breed.
“We have a non-profit sector of the farm where it helps support the educational and scientific backing, as well as the care for this rare breed,” says Price. “I encourage people to support that if they can and to come out to the farm.”
Price will soon be offering farm learning days later this summer. These will allow people to visit the farm and learn different aspects of where their food comes from. Activities will include how to take care of the animals, safety, showing, canning and more.
To learn more about the Kerry breed and these learning days at Grace Acres Farms visit their website or Facebook page.
