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All stock submitted for registration in the Herd Book is given a grade which classifies the level of Highland bloodlines in the animal’s pedigree. The grades that follow are the only ones used in the NZHCS Herdbook (NZHCS HB) to grade cattle.
Use this grid to determine what grade the progeny of your cattle would be. For example, the progeny of a P2 Bull and a P4 Cow would be P3.
All animals whose sires and dams are registered in the NZHCS HB or are registered as Fullblood in the Herd Book of the Highland Cattle Society UK, Canada, Australia or America or in some other Herd Book approved by Council, and whose ancestry shows no introduction of any other breed of cattle.
This classification was introduced to be able to give a distinction between animals that have come through a breeding up regime, and animals that have come from a totally Highland ancestry. All offshore societies except Australia do not recognise bred up stock, and this category allowed members who had fullblood stock to be able to export genetics to these countries in the future.
This applies to a number of animals who formed much of the original basis of the NZHCS HB. When the Herd Book was first set up it was modelled on the Australian version.
Representatives of the Australian Society and the newly formed NZ Society travelled around the countryside visiting folds inspecting animals to be bought into the NZ Herd Book. In some instances, there were complete breeding records going back many years which proved the lineage of the animal, and the inspectors were satisfied that these animals were fullblood.
Originally these animals were bought into the Herd Book and simply listed as Fullblood (F). A few years ago, it was agreed that since there were now many fullblood animals with all the necessary proof registered, it would be worthwhile to differentiate between those that were assessed as Fullbloods and those that are known to have been bred as Fullbloods.
After 1st June 2002 only progeny from animals already registered as C or above in the NZHCS HB will be accepted for registration.
The animals with a purebred status will also have a number after the P, denoting how many generations the animal has been purebred. The number system is:
P1 First generation purebred
P2 Second generation purebred
P3 Third generation purebred
P4 Fourth generation purebred
PX Over four generations purebred
No bulls with a grade of P1 or less can be registered in the NZHCS HB. There will be a few instances where bulls with a P1 classification who were registered prior to the rule change in 1997 are listed in pedigrees.
The animals with a purebred status will also have a number after the P, denoting how many generations the animal has been purebred. The number system is:
P1 First generation purebred
P2 Second generation purebred
P3 Third generation purebred
P4 Fourth generation purebred
PX Over four generations purebred
No bulls with a grade of P1 or less can be registered in the NZHCS HB. There will be a few instances where bulls with a P1 classification who were registered prior to the rule change in 1997 are listed in pedigrees.
Cows whose sires are registered as P2 or higher, or Fullblood, and whose dams are registered in Class B in the NZHCS Herd Book. Or those cows whose ancestry is obviously Highland and on inspection by, and at the discretion of, the Society Inspector is granted A status. Breeding records must be produced and any inspection costs to be borne by the member.
Cows whose sires are registered as P2 or higher, or Fullblood, and whose dams are registered in Class C in the NZHCS HB and who may be subjected to inspection. Or those cows whose ancestry is obviously Highland and on inspection by, and at the discretion of, the Society Inspector is granted B status. Breeding records must be produced and any inspection costs to be borne by the member.
Animals whose pedigrees are incomplete but who show predominately highland characteristics may from time to time be bought into the NZHCS HB after having been assessed by Council appointed representatives. Each case is considered individually.
Cows whose sires are registered as P2 or higher, or Fullblood, and whose dams are less than 1/2 pure or any other breed of cattle. (Main breed to be specified).
There has been concern for a number of years that in New Zealand there are high quality Highland cows that do not have any pedigrees, or pedigrees that are able to be recognised for entry into the NZHCS Herd Book. This is a loss to the breed, to breeders and to the NZHCS as a whole.
NZHCS has a process that creates a pathway for descendants of females that are clearly highland but have either partial or no verifiable pedigree.