Jersey cows
The Fairview Vineyard Cheesery started out in 1980, producing goats’ milk cheeses using milk from the herd on our farm in Paarl. Today that herd numbers close to 800 does and our award winning goats’ milk range has gained many fans around the country.
In 1995 the decision was taken to introduce Jersey cows’ milk cheese production at Fairview. Our cheese makers were looking to add new lines and expand the portfolio of products, as well as looking to take speciality style cheeses to a wider base of consumers. This decision proved to be a very astute one, and today the milk from these Jersey cows accounts for up to 85% of our production volumes.
So why Jerseys?
A number of dairy cow breeds are used to produce milk for cheese production, but Fairview cheesemaker Louis Lourens has always maintained that the milk from a Jersey is best suited to Fairview’s range and style of cheeses. Although Fairview does not its own herd of Jerseys, we work closely with a small, select group of dairy farmers in the Boland, ensuring a consistent, high quality supply of milk.
Jersey cows, as their name implies, were first bred on the Channel Island of Jersey. They are a smaller breed, weighing approximately 400 to 500 kilograms, and are light brown or tan in colour. Although Jerseys are fairly small (by cattle standards) they produce quite a lot of milk – 18 to 20 litres per day. They are curious by nature and generally quite docile.
The attraction from a speciality cheese making point of view is their milk’s high butterfat and protein levels. This gives our cheeses a lovely soft, creamy mouthfeel and also means that the cheese makers are able to get a good yield per litre.
