Classifiers from Holstein UK will score each cow/bull using a linear system and they will assign a score to the body area, rump area, mammary system, legs and feet and breed character of each animal. The animals current body condition does not have any bearing on the classification score as the classifiers look at the working animal beneath the flesh (i.e animals do not need to be in show condition to be classified)

A separate score will be recorded for 3 other criteria;

• Muscling (The shape of loin/thigh. Meat producing potential of the animal)
• Colour (4 categories)
• ‘Poppy’ eyes present or absent.

EX-90-97 points

VG- 85-89 points

GP- 80-84 points

G-  75-79 points

F-    65-74 points

P-    50-64 points

Once your animal is classified you can represent it like so; ‘Animals Name’ VG 87 5yr

So ‘Animals Name’ was classified as Very Good with 87 points out of 97 at 5 years old.

How to join up

This is a voluntary system and if you wish to get animals in your herd classified, contact the Society’s Breed Secretary, Gillian Steele and your details will then be passed onto the classifiers from Holstein UK who will arrange to call whenever they are in your area. In NI and ROI this will be twice a year (January and June) In England and the rest of the mainland the classifiers will be more available throughout the year.

Price

Please refer to ‘Fees Section’ Appendix 1 of Society Rules or contact the Hon. Registrar.

What to get classified

Females must have had at least one calf in order to be classified. If a heifer has calved a little immature, then it is advisable to leave her until a 2^ndcalver. Cows/ Heifers must be producing milk therefore dry cows are ineligible.

Bulls must be over 2 years old before they are eligible for classification. Animals can be classified every year, bearing in mind that they may gain more points year on year as they mature but will never drop points. Calved heifers can only score a maximum of VG 89.

Preparation for the Classifier

On the day make sure that whatever animals you plan to get classified are in a shed/pen adjacent to a small yard/collecting pen where each animal can be let out individually to be viewed during the classification process. Animals must be viewed on a level, hard surface therefore a field is not suitable. The animals do not need to be handled therefore a crush or being led on a halter is not required.

It is very important to have the animals Pedigree Certificate at hand as the classifier needs to copy the animal’s details from it and will then will stamp the certificate with the animal’s official classification score. It is also important that all animals have correct tags in them in order to be properly identified.

You will also receive an on the spot print out of the full classification score breakdown of the individual animal on the day.