Each year, NZ Milking Shorthorn members have the opportunity to submit their in-milk heifers and cows for Classification and TOP inspection, carried out by Holstein Friesian NZ on our behalf.
Members may submit all in-milk two-year-old heifers, any cows not previously classified, and previously classified cows for promotion, provided they have calved since their last award.
Classification is conducted annually in conjunction with TOP inspections in the spring. Autumn Classification is available on request for Autumn-calving animals and is subject to minimum herd and animal numbers within a region.
Classification and TOP services are subject to the standard terms and conditions set by NZ Milking Shorthorn and Holstein Friesian NZ. Members are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the full Conditions of Classification and Service Fees prior to submitting animals.
NZ Milking Shorthorn will confirm the date and time of your inspection. Please ensure that any health and safety policy requirements for your farm are provided to NZ Milking Shorthorn prior to the scheduled inspection.
Please ensure your facilities are suitable for inspections and that a staff member is available to assist the classifier on the day. All members are asked to make hot water and scrubbing brushes available to inspectors to prevent cross-contamination between farms.
The Classification system aims to improve the overall standard of type and conformation of the New Zealand Milking Shorthorn cow by recognising each individual cow’s functional strengths and weaknesses and awarding a Classification score.
Registered Milking Shorthorn animals receive a score between 70–97 points and are awarded one of the following classification awards:
- Fair (F): 70–74
- Good (G): 75–79
- Good Plus (GP): 80–84
- Very Good (VG): 85–89
- Excellent (EX): 90+
To qualify for an Excellent (EX) award, cows must be at least four years old, have calved three times, and be in their third recorded lactation. Cows may be resubmitted for EX2, EX3, EX4 etc., following two further calvings and a second recorded lactation since their last EX award.
TOP scoring is carried out by trained inspectors using a 1–9 scale evaluating 11 conformation traits. Additional scores are given for Udder Overall, Dairy Conformation and Body Condition Score.
TOP data is essential for calculating Sire Proofs. Members must submit all two-year-old heifers (pedigree and grade) sired by Milking Shorthorn sires for TOP inspection.
In addition to classifier scores, Farmer Traits are collected for four traits, three of which relate to milking routine. These can be submitted via:
Farmer Sheets are automatically sent for all two-year-olds. Blank sheets for older animals are available on request from the NZ Milking Shorthorn office.
At the member’s discretion, any animal not showing as PS or SS on the inspector’s screen (i.e. grade animals) will be given a final classification award and an ER (Eligible for Registration) code. These animals will be registered automatically by the NZ Milking Shorthorn office. A registration fee and classification charge will apply, and these animals will be charged at the registered heifer TOP price.
The Member Herd View Report provides a comprehensive overview of all currently registered in-milk cows in a member’s herd. It includes key data such as Birth ID, Cow Number, Animal Name, Breed Content, Birth and Calving Dates, Fat (kg), Protein (kg), Milk (L), DIM, BW/Rel, latest TOP scores, and the Classification award with the year it was given. This is the only industry report that includes the date of the last classification, making it an invaluable tool for selecting animals for re-classification.
Members may request this report as part of their Classification application, for an additional fee of $11.50 per report.
Classification awards can be found under the Milk tab on MINDA LIVE, within the Animal Details section. When viewing an animal’s herd test results, you can also access its classification (class). See the example below:
