Seven Jersey heifers originally selected as a Platinum Jubilee gift for Queen Elizabeth II have been ‘re-gifted’ by King Charles III to help a Jersey dairy farmer who lost nearly all his 137 strong dairy cow herd at the end of 2022.

The in-calf heifers were given to Charlie Le Boutillier of Woodlands Farm to assist with the re-stocking programme and in support of the Jersey dairy farming community. Over a few days in December more than 100 of Le Boutiller's jersey dairy cows fell and died with the island's chief veterinary officer concluding that the most likely cause of death was botulism.

The Royal Jersey Agricultural & Horticultural Society and the Jersey Milk Marketing Board arranged to present the seven heifers to Queen Elizabeth II last year.

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The group of maiden heifers represent a cross section of breeding from the leading herds in Jersey and remained in Jersey to be bred with the view to creating a lasting legacy within the Windsor herd of a breeding line that traces back into the heritage of the Jersey Herd Book and the origins of the Jersey breed.

Following the accession to the throne of King Charles III, arrangements were in hand for the shipping of the animals to Windsor, but the King decided to gift the cows to the island after the loss of cattle at Woodlands Farm.

The heifers were presented to the Lieutenant Governor of Jersey, Jerry Kyd, who, on behalf of the King, gifted them to the Le Boutillier family.

Jersey Dairy said the progeny of these animals will be recorded within the Jersey Herd Book with the affix ‘Platinum’ to their pedigree name to mark the deep links between the Sovereign and the Jersey breed in the Island.

Andrew Le Gallais, a dairy farmer and former chairman of the Jersey Milk Marketing Board, said arrangements had been helped by the King’s representative in the Island.

He said: ‘We have built a close relationship with the Lieutenant-Governor [Vice-Admiral Jerry Kyd] and he understood exactly what was involved in this process and helped us in going through the protocols – there was a lot to be gone through.

‘We have been very struck that this wasn’t a matter of the King signing a form that was put in front of him: he was aware of what had happened here in December and has shown great interest. This is a personal gift from the Monarchy and a phenomenal gesture to Woodlands Farm and to the Island herd.’

The dairy farmer went on to say: ‘What happened at Woodlands was beyond devastating and they have shown great resilience since that time.

‘The industry has already identified around 80 heifers which will go to help them in re-stocking – it’s not a quick solution, because it’s two years [from birth] until any milk is produced, but there’s been a lot of support.’