Codes for use in a herd register
A list of codes to be used when filling out a herd register.
Breed codes
The list is complete for Northern Ireland at present and will be revised by the Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (DARD) as necessary. However, if you require to record a breed not on the list, contact your local Divisional Veterinary Office (DVO) for advice. In the case of crossbreeds record only the dominant breed.
- Aberdeen Angus - AA
- Angler Rotvieh - AR
- Aubrac - AU
- Ayrshire - AYR
- Bazadais - BAZ
- Belgian Blue - BB
- Bison - BI
- Belted Galloway - BGA
- Blonde D'Aquataine - DAQ
- Blue Albion - BAL
- Braunbieh - BRA
- British White - BW
- Canadian Black - CAN
- Charolais - CH
- Chianina - CHI
- Chillingham - CHL
- Danish Red - DR
- Devon - DEV
- Dexter - DEX
- European Angus - EA
- Fleckvieh - FKV
- Friesian - FR
- Galloway - GAL
- Gasconne - GAS
- Gelbvieh - GE
- Gloucester - GLO
- Guernsey - GU
- Hereford - HER
- Highland - HI
- Holstein - HOL
- Irish Moile - IM
- Jersey - JER
- Kerry - KE
- Longhorn - LH
- Limousin - LIM
- Lincoln Red - LNR
- Luing - LUI
- Maine Anjou - MAJ
- Marchigiana - MAR
- Meuse Rhine Yssel - MRI
- Miniature Zebru - MZB
- Montbeliarde - MB
- Murray Grey - MG
- Normande - NOR
- Norweigan Red - NR
- Parthenais - PAR
- Piemontese - PIE
- Pinzgauer - PIN
- Red Pole - RPL
- Romagnola - ROM
- Rotbunt - ROT
- Salers - SAL
- Shetland - STL
- Shorthorn - SH
- Shorthorn Beef - SHB
- Shorthorn Dairy - SHD
- Simmental - SIM
- South Devon - SD
- Speckle Park - SPK
- Stabiliser - ST
- Sussex - SU
- Swedish Red - SWR
- Swiss Brown - SBR
- Tyrone Black - TYB
- Unknown - UNK
- Vaynol - VA
- Vosgienne-Vosges-VOS
- Wagyu - WAG
- Water Buffalo - BU
- Welsh Black - WB
- White Galloway - WG
- White Park - WP
Colour codes
All colour types are covered. Do not use any variations. Colour dominance is not important. For example. white and black is BW. Please note that brown is not a colour to be used. Depending on the intensity of the colour, Red (R) or Dun (D) should be used.
- Black - B
- Blue - BL
- Brindle - BR
- Dun - D (includes yellow, fawn, cream, light brown etc.)
- Red - R
- Roan - RN
- Black & White - BW
- Blue & White - BLW
- Dun & White - DW
- Red & White - RW
- White - W
Class/Sex codes
All bulls over 6 months of age should be recorded as bulls (B). All other males (in other words steers and bull calves) should be recorded as males (M) unless the bull calf is intended for breeding purposes or bull beef production in which case bull (B) should be used.
- Bull - B
- Female - F
- Male - M
Date of Birth details
- The exact date of birth must be entered for animals born in the herd.
- For animals bought into the herd, the date of birth should be taken from the accompanying movement document.
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