THE new president of the World Jersey Cattle Bureau is Colombian Jersey dairy herd owner Gonzalo Maldonado.

Dr Maldonado, who takes over leadership of the WJCB from South African Johannes van Eeden, had his position confirmed on the last day of the 18th World Jersey Cattle Bureau international conference, which took place at the Hotel de France.

Dr Maldonado keeps some 80 Jersey milking cows near Bogota, Colombia. He is one of many farmers worldwide who have transferred their allegiance to the Jersey breed from Holsteins. In 1992 he sold his Holstein cows and established a Jersey herd instead, with foundation stock from Canada.

The third and last day of this year’s international conference included presentations and reports from around the world which showed that the Jersey herd worldwide continues to go from strength to strength. The 19th international conference take place in New Zealand in 2011.