Dutch Belted Cattle Association of America

Home	Mission Statement	About the Breed	Breeding Up Program	AI Sires	Dutch Belted Bulletin	Breeder Listing	Applications	Links	Contact Us	Events

Dutch Belted Classification Program

This program provides an official type classification program for breeders of Dutch Belted cattle. The program is in cooperation with the Brown Swiss Association (BSA) with services provided by their field staff. (The BSA currently coordinates classification services for the Milking Shorthorn and Guernsey breed associations.) The program features are outlined below:

* The program's purpose, at this time, is for the advertising/marketing value that a classification score provides and for the breeder's own use as a tool for breeding and selection. Currently, it is cost prohibitive for the type data to be used in sire summaries.

* Classifiers score 16 body traits on a 1-9 scale using hand-held Palm Pilots. Some traits are considered "two-way traits", which means either an extreme high (8-9) or low score (1-2) is considered a fault, with 5 being ideal. Examples are rump angle, stature, and rear legs side view. Other traits like strength and body depth are simple linear traits-the higher the number the better.

* After traits are scored, categories are weighted according to relative importance:
Strength & Substance 15%
Dairy Quality 15%
Rump 10%
Mobility 20%
Mammary 40%

*Data is printed at the farm and provided to the breeder immediately. Final scores are assigned as follows:
90 & above "Excellent"
85-89 "Very Good"
80-84 "Good Plus"
75-79 "Good"
70-74 "Fair"
69 & below "Poor"

* Herds are scored in major dairy states on a 9-18 month rotating schedule to avoid seeing cows at the same stage of lactation. Some states with low dairy populations (Southeast US, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana) are scored every 12 months.

2011 Classification Schedule

Month	States	Application Date
January 2011	KY, TN, IN, IL, AL, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC	October 15, 2010
February 2011	OH, MI, AZ, NM	November 15, 2010
March 2011	WI	December 15, 2010
April 2011	AR, KS, MO, NE	January 15, 2011
May 2011	IA, MN, ND, SD	February 15, 2011
June 2011	CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT, NY	March 15, 2011
July 2011	PA, NJ, DE, MD, VA, WV	April 15, 2011
August 2011	OR, WA, ID, UT, CO, WY, MT	May 15, 2011
September 2011	OK, TX, CA, NV	June 15, 2011
October 2011	KY, TN, IN, IL	July 15, 2011
November 2011	OH, MI	August 15, 2011
December 2011	WI	September 15, 2011

Breeders interested in classifying should contact Jim Versweyveld for an application, noting the deadlines above.

* Cost to classify is $12 per cow with a $100 herd minimum.