Jersey Australia Classification System

The Jersey Australia classification system provides an independent assessment of each cow in a Breeders herd on its structural integrity and comparison to the true-type Jersey cows.  Classification data is an important management tool providing a wealth of data to enable the farmer to make strategic breeding corrective mating choices.  Cows of high-quality functional type cows bred to the true to breed Australian Jersey have greater capacity to produce more and last longer in herd.

Classification builds strategic values in cows and cow families.  Generation upon generation of high-quality classification demonstrate the genetic capability of the cow(s) to breed on providing the breeders and or purchaser greater confidence in the cow’s ability to produce and last longer in herd.

All cows are scored on a 1 to 9 scale for 24 linear traits with 29 separate defects also scored if present. Traits are scored to the individually set ideal for the cow’s number of lactations. Traits and defects are broken into 4 separate trait groups focusing on the key structural and performance areas of the cow.

Early lactation cows have lower maximum scores at 1st, 2nd, and 3rd lactation to mature cows to ensure cows are not pushed to extremes too early to maximise their productive life.

1st lactation classification data is also used by DataGene for the purposes of creating Australian Breeding Values for type.

Trait Linear Score with Ideal Range

Ideal is dependent on age of cow through 1st, 2nd, 3rd and subsequent lactations
Stature Short 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Tall
Texture Fleshy 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Soft
Bone Quality Coarse 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Flat
Rib / Angularity Narrow 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Well, Sprung
Muzzle Width Narrow 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Wide
Body Length Short 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Long
Body Depth Shallow 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Deep
Loin Weak 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Strong
Chest Narrow 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Wide
Rump Length Short 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Long
Pin Width Narrow 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 wide
Pin Set High 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Low
Foot angle Flat 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Steep
Heel Depth Flat 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Steep
Rear set Straight 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Sickled
Rear Leg Rear View Toe Out 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Tracks Straight
Udder Depth Deep 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Shallow
Fore Attachment Weak 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Strong
Rear Attach. Height Low 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 High
Rear Attach. Width Narrow 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Wide
Med Susp Weak 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Strong
Front Teat Placement Out 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Under
Rear Teat Placement Out 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Under
Teat Length Short 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Long

 

Mammary Feet & Legs Rump Dairy Strength
Traits (% contribution to trait group score)

  • Udder Depth (13%)
  • Udder Texture (11%)
  • Fore Attachment (16%)
  • Rear Attachment Height (12%)
  • Rear Attachment Width (12%)
  • Centre Ligament (13%)
  • Rear Teat Placement (8%)
  • Front Teat Placement (8%)
  • Teat Length (8%)
 Traits (% contribution to trait group score)

  • Heal Depth (24%)
  • Foot Angle (12%)
  • Rear Leg Rear View (30%)
  • Rear Set (22%)
  • Loin (12%)
 Traits (% contribution to trait group score)

  • Rump length (23%)
  • Pin Width (21%)
  • Pin Set (24%)
  • Loin (32%)
 Traits (% contribution to trait group score)

  • Chest Width (20%)
  • Body Depth (16%)
  • Body Length (5%)
  •  Muzzle Width (12%)
  • Stature (2%)
  • Bone (20%)
  • Rib / Angularity (20%)
  • Loin (5%)
Defects

Tilted Udder, Heavy Fore Udder, Front Udder Short, Quartered Udder, Rear Udder Unbalanced, Close Side Teats, Webbed Teats, Front Teats Funnelled, Front Teats Not Plumb, Pencil Teats, Rear Teats Too Far Back, Rear Teats Funneled, Rear Teats Not Plumb, Blind Quartered

 Defects

Weak Pasterns, Crampy Legs, Front Feet Toes Out.

 Defects

Thurls Back, Wry Tail, Recessed Tail Head, Advanced Anus

 Defects

Short Head, Wry Face, Undershot Jaw, Narrow Heart, Close Rib, High Pelvis
35% Contribution to Final Score 10% Contribution to Final Score 15% Contribution to Final Score 40% Contribution to Final Score

Maximum Scores at lactation level.

The scoring of cows is controlled in the early lactation years to manage and facilitate the maturity of the cow to develop into a long lasting productive cow in the herd life.  Maximum scores are set for 1st, 2nd and 3rd lactation.  All trait group scores are to the same maximum score.

  Mammary Feet and Legs Rump Dairy Strength Final Score
1st Lactation 88 88 88 88 88
2nd Lactation 91 91 91 91 91
3rd Lactation 93 93 93 93 93
Mature cows 100 100 100 100 100