Type Classification Service

Type Classification provides an independent assessment of cows in your herd reviewing the strengths and weaknesses to enhance longevity, health and welfare. It provides an overall classification score for your heifers and cows, which can substantially increase their value.

- See your cows through fresh eyes

- Classifiers score twenty-four individual ‘linear’ traits

- Insight enables better corrective breeding decisions to be made

- Identify the top percentage of the herd on type to breed your replacements from

- Helps breed in good functional conformation and reduces unnecessary rearing costs

- Classification information is used in our truly independent mating program

- ‘WebMate’ which is a fully interactive tool to make breeding decisions easier

- Highly graded animals can have a considerably higher value than their non-classified counterparts

The NBDC Type Classification Scheme currently evaluates over 130,000 dairy and beef animals every year. The NBDC classifiers operate an internationally recognised appraisal system which is used by the AI industry in the British Isles to provide reliable type proofs. 

 

TRAITS INCLUDED IN CLASSIFICATION

Linear assessment involves the measurement of 24 individual traits on a scale of 1-9, describing the degree of the trait rather than its desirability. The traits are as follows:

Mammary (40%)	Feet & Legs (30%)	Dairy Capacity (10%)	Rump (10%)	Dairy Character (10%)	Management
Udder Depth	Foot Angle	Stature	Rump Angle	Angularity	Temperament
Udder Texture	Rear Leg Side View	Body Depth	Rump Width		Milking Speed
Central Ligament	Rear Leg Rear View	Chest Width	Loin Strength		Condition Score
Fore Udder Attachment	Bone quality	Height at Front End	Thurl Position
Front Teat Placement	Locomotion
Rear Udder Height
Rear Udder Width
Teat Length
Teat Position
Udder Tilt

 

To see a description of each trait classified for dairy cows, refer to the Holstein Virtual Cow and :

      - for Dairy breeds: Dairy Cattle Type Classification Guide 

      - for Beef breeds: Beef Cattle Type Classification Guide

 

FINAL SCORE AND GRADE

Classification involves the appraisal of an animals in comparison to the ideal. An overall score and grade are awarded, according to the following scale:

Final Linear Score	Final Grade
90-97	Excellent (EX)
85-89	Very Good (VG)
80-84	Good Plus (GP)
75-79	Good (G)
65-74	Fair (F)
50-64	Poor (P)

A similar score and grade are awarded to each of the five areas of the cow – mammary, feet & legs, dairy capacity, rump and dairy character. Then the final score is calculated from the individual score of these five assessments.

 

FINAL SCORE AND GRADE

The maximum Final Score attributed to an animal depend on its number of calving:

Parity	Final Score
1st Calver	88 points
2nd Calver	89 points
3rd Calver	93 points
4rd Calver +	97 points

 

BREEDS ASSESSED

The NBDC Classification Team assess 18 breeds of cattle across the UK and Channel Islands. The below table shows all the breeds currently participating in the Type Classification Scheme. If you are interested in classifying you herd please use the contact numbers at the bottom of the page. 

Dairy Breeds	Beef Breeds
Ayrshire	Beef Shorthorn
British Friesian	Dexter
Brown Swiss	Gloucester
Dairy Shorthorn	Irish Moiled
Guernsey Island	Longhorn
Guernsey UK	Simmentals
Holstein	South Devons
Jersey Island	Red Ruby Devon
Jersey UK	Welsh Black
Montbeliarde	Aberdeen Angus
	British White

There are several forms of the service, one to suit each breed – Ayrshire, British Friesian, Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Holstein, Jersey and Shorthorn. In each case, the service offers the potential to substantially increase the value of your herd and for some, opens up services such as:

The Classifier does not require you to:

• Wash or clip the animals
• Lead them on a halter
• Show them full of milk

What do I receive after the classification?

• An official classification score for each animal inspected, endorsed by the classifier on all relevant registration certificates.
• Full assessment report on each animal together with a choice of three individual mating recommendations are provided.
• You decide the type of cows you want to breed. ‘WebMate’ locates the sire best suited to your needs.
• ‘WebMate’ will also provide the best mating for semen you have already purchased.
• The chance to re-run the matings at your convenience or after each official proof release directly from the NBDC website using your latest information via a PIN protected login.

NBDC classifiers operate an internationally recognised appraisal system which is used by the AI industry in the British Isles to provide reliable type proofs.

NBDC Type Classification fees (pdf)

 

If you would like to book a classification, please contact: