Appraisal
The American Jersey Cattle Association compiles and maintains animal identification and performance data on Jersey cattle and provides services that support genetic improvement and greater profitability through increasing the value of and demand for Registered Jersey™ cattle and genetics, and Jersey milk and milk products.
Overview
Evaluation of functional type traits in individual Jersey cows is one of the oldest, and most useful services provided by the American Jersey Cattle Association. The current program was introduced in 1980, with six primary features:
- Biological traits, clearly defined, are evaluated on a linear scale.
- Using a numerical scale, traits are scored from one biological extreme to the other.
- Cows are scored early in their productive life in order to separate genetic from environmental effects.
- All similiar-age contemporaries are evaluated.
- Evaluators do not know the sire of the cows being evaluated.
- Registered and unregistered Jerseys are evaluated.
Jersey type evaluation is not a program that “classifies” animals by comparing them to the “ideal Jersey”. Instead, it is a service that gives you unbiased information about the strengths and weaknesses of your cows.
Program Options
Included in Total Performance Evaluation (TPE) & REAP
Herd appraisals are scheduled every seven (7) to ten (10) months. All first and second lactation cows are required to be scored. Older cows that have been scored twice previously or are over the age of 5 may be scored at the owner’s option for an additional fee.
Experienced evaluators inspect all cows in their first and second lactations for 16 different traits, then give them a score which describes how that trait is expressed along its biological extremes. The appraisal information is sent to the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB) for inclusion in genetic evaluations for type. So in addition to the valuable breeding information provided on your individual cows, more information is contributed toward evaluation of potential service sires.
Following the appraisal, you get a printout of final scores, trait breakdowns, and remarks. The information is sent overnight to the AJCA for processing. Barring complications in delivery and/or processing, the new scores and breakdowns will be available immediately on Official Performance Pedigrees and Performance-Progeny reports.
STEP +
If you’re a herd owner who wants just linear type information, STEP fits your needs. The program (described above) includes a subscription to the Jersey Genetic Summary.
Special and Random Appraisal +
Call the Appraisal Office Coordinator at 614/861-3636 to discuss scheduling and service fees.
Program Rules & Standards
Current rules for the Functional Type Traits Appraisal Program and evaluation standards plus application can be found under the “documents” section of this page.
