Breeding Quality (Cattle & Sheep)

Breeding Quality relates to the quality of the breeding programme and suitability for their end use.

Excellent: Top sires used and top standards of selection and management, i.e. the small percentage of really first-class stock. A line with a large culling taken out.

Very Good: Good quality sires used with heavy culling and selection programme - stock with a reputation for growing out/fattening/producing well. A line with a reasonable culling taken out.

Good: Quality sires used, reasonable selection practices i.e. average stock. A line that has had some culls removed.

Fair: Average quality sires used, but otherwise little selection practiced. A line that needs a heavy cull taken out.

Plain: Very poor breeding quality, e.g. inbreeding, structural or conformation faults expected to limit future growth and/or fattening/production ability. Could apply to culls or at best seconds or thirds from a line of stock.