JERSEY bull semen could be cryogenically frozen and stored in a nuclear-proof bunker in the United States to ensure that the historic breed is preserved for ever, it has been revealed.

The Royal Jersey Agricultural and Horticultural Society is considering storing semen from the pure Jersey breed at two sites – one in Scotland and the other at the National Centre for Genetic Resources Preservation in Fort Collins, Colorado.

The organisation are considering the move just weeks after the States overturned a 220-year ban on importing semen for dairy cattle. Supporters of the move to end the ban said that it would strengthen the breed and could increase milk yields by up to 50 per cent; opponents said that the move would end the purity of the local Jersey cow.

James Godfray, chief executive of the RJAHS, said that it was now essential that semen from the pure Jersey breed was stored outside the Island. He said: ‘We have kept frozen samples of Jersey bull semen in the Island for years, and we will continue to do so. But now that the ban on importing semen has been overturned, it is essential that we look at storing it out of the Island, too. We are not doing this because we think something terrible is going to happen. It is just that we believe that it is best practice.

• Picture: A breed apart: RJAHS chief executive James Godfray (left) said it was essential that semen was stored outside the Island