Type

What is traditionally known as the classification of an animal can be broken down into two parts : evaluation and description.

The purpose of this evaluation is to provide a value judgement on the day the animal is examined on the four type traits (udder, body capacity, rump, feet and legs), on the basis of which a multitrait score is calculated (overall score). This phenotypic value, published in all of the zootechnical documents, enables the breeder to better evaluate his animal and is primarily a commercial value.
The evaluation is carried out on all animals during their first or second lactation but, contrary to the description, the animal may be evaluated several times. In fact, animals with a score of at least 85 points are systematically re-evaluated at the following calving and until their 3rd lactation.
In concrete terms, each type group (udder, body capacity, rump, feet and legs) is classified as: Excellent (EX), Very Good (VG), Good (G), Correct (C), Passable (P) or Mediocre (M).

The udder, which is the most important dairy trait, is scored out of 50 points, body capacity out of 30 points, the rump and feet and legs out of 10 points each.

	EX	VG	G	C	P	M
Udder	50	46	41	36	31	26
Body capacity	30	27	24	21	18	15
Rump	10	9	8	7	6	5
Feet and legs	10	9	8	7	6	5
Overall score	100 to 90	89 to 85	84 to 80	79 to 70	69 to 60	59 to 51

The overall score, out of 100 points, is obtained by adding the number of points for each trait. It is accompanied by a qualifier defined as a function of the number of points, as can be seen on the table above (ex. VG 89).

The evaluator marks a certain number of morphological details from 1 to 9, without a value judgement. This unpublished data then makes it possible to calculate type traits for males and females. Milking speed and temperament data is also gathered from the breeder and is rated on a scale of 1 to 5. This data is collected for all of the cows for the first lactation and, if this is not possible, for the 2nd lactation. To the contrary of the evaluation, the description is made only once during the productive life of the animal.
Measurements are made whenever possible using a measuring stick for four of the traits in the description : height at sacrum, chest depth, chest width, rump length and width at hips.

Out of a total of 20 elementary traits published, 8 deal with the udder : udder cleft (PS), udder depth (PJ), udder balance (EQ), fore udder (AA), rear udder height (AH), front teat placement (EA), rear teat direction (IA) and teat length (LT).
6 measurable traits make it possible to evaluate the body capacity and the rump: height at sacrum (HS), body depth (PC), chest width (LP), angularity (AC), width at pins (IS) and rump angle (IB).
4 traits are related to feet and legs: rear legs set (AJ), foot angle (PI), locomotion (LO) and rear legs rear view (MR).
Finally, 2 additional traits make it possible to evaluate milking speed (TR) and temperament (TE).

Click on a zone to consult a trait

This data is gathered by UPRA inspectors today (all of the females of the Service Elaboré and 20% of the daughters tested for progeny). Permanent training in the form of harmonisation sessions makes it possible to achieve good homogeneity between all of the technicians. Finally, all of the technicians must be re-certified every three years by Prim'Holstein France, guaranteeing or excluding their membership in this very competent group of approved evaluators. This constant re-evaluation, granting these technicians the right to evaluate, is a guarantee of their capability and, therefore, the reliability of recorded results which are the basis for breeding values of genotypic traits.