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Classification - Type Evaluation
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No matter what your herd size or management goals, Holstein Association USA's classification program can help you make important management decisions and add value to your cattle.

Information received from classification can be used to make important mating decisions, identify the most profitable and valuable animals in your herd, and adds definite marketability to your Registered Holsteins®.

The Holstein Association's professional staff of classifiers evaluates 17 individual traits in five major dairy scorecard breakdowns. This information has several benefits for all dairy producers, regardless of their management goals, such as:

  red bullet Provides an unbiased and accurate evaluation of your cattle.
  red bullet Gives a clear understanding of each animal's strengths and weaknesses.
  red bullet Compares your herd's type pattern to breed averages.
  red bullet Defines type trait trends from one generation to the next.
  red bullet Adds trait appraisals to Official Holstein Pedigrees™.
  red bullet Provides a basis for follow-up matings. Linear scores can be entered into the Red Book Plus/MultiMateTM software for use in corrective mating.
Schedule Your Upcoming Classification Online
Complete Your Classifier Evaluation Online
Classifier in animal pen

Other Resources
red bullet Read Herd Classification Policy
red bullet Download Herd Inventory Form

 
Classification is the trusted, neutral way to evaluate your herd and add to your bottom line.
For more information on the Classification program, call Customer Service at 800.952.5200.
Classification Programs
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Holstein breeders can have their cattle evaluated for type (conformation) through the Holstein Association's linear classification programs. Holstein breeders use linear classification as a tool to breed, develop and market higher producing, more durable cows. The Holstein Association offers five different classification programs, including two scheduling options, in order to provide dairy producers maximum flexibility in how many cows they will have evaluated and when the classification will occur.

Classifier using handheld
Classic
If it's important to you to have all your cows evaluated, the Classic program is for you. All of your cows will be evaluated, including previously scored animals. By participating in this program you will receive an official herd BAA, and are also eligible for herd recognition awards.
Standard
When you want most, but not all, of your cows evaluated the Standard program will meet your needs. In this program dry cows and cows with permanent scores are optional. An official herd BAA will be calculated for your herd and you are eligible for herd recognition awards.
Limited
The Limited program could be particularly appealing if your interest lies in evaluating first calf heifers. This program only requires all previously unscored cows in milk. In addition, any cows less than 43 months of age and in milk who do not have a previous score which was usable for genetic evaluation will be required. All other cows are optional.
Classifier classifying herd
Introductory
If you haven't been classifying, take advantage of this special program to get started. The Introductory program is available if you have not classified within the past four years. First and second lactation cows in milk are the only cows required to be presented. All other cows are optional.
Breeder's Choice
For that special animal, or for that important sale or show, you'll need the Breeder's Choice program. You are allowed to select which cows are to be evaluated, and there are no required cows.

Participation Programs
Required Cows *1, *2 Optional Cows *1 Official BAA Calculated
Classic All cows that have ever freshened normally within 36 months None Yes
Standard All non-permanent cows in milk All other cows Yes
Limited All unscored cows in milk of less than 43 months of age. Scored cows in milk of less than 43 months of age whose previous scores were not usable for genetic evaluations. All other cows No
Introductory All 1st and 2nd lactation cows in milk
(Available only to breeders who have not classified within the past 4 years)
All other cows No
Breeder's Choice None All cows No
*1 Only those scores assigned to the required cows can be used for calculating genetic evaluations (cow and bull PTATs). Scores assigned to Optional cows cannot be used for this purpose. Required cows will be noted on your Classification Herd Inventory with an "R" following their ID number.
*2 In addition to the normal group of Required cows, all other cows in milk and less than 43 months of age that have not previously been assigned a score usable for genetic evaluations will be Required to be presented in all participation programs except the Breeder's Choice and Introductory Programs.

Classification Contracting
Herds classifying at least three times annually may benefit by contracting their classification. A 10% discount to the herd's annual classification costs is applied at the completion of the contract. Holstein COMPLETESM herds are eligible for this program, with the 10% discount applying to the two classification not included as a part of COMPLETE.

  • Enroll by November 10 for contract classifications in the next calendar year.
  • Applicant must specify (at the time of enrollment) which months classifications are desired.
  • See previous page for area and non-area classification pricing. At the completion of the contract,
    a 10% discount will be applied to the total cost of the classifications.
2023 Classification Schedule
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Scheduling Options

Area Scheduling
With this option, you will participate in your choice of the classification programs during regionalized, pre-scheduled periods. Classifiers are in each Area on a seven month cycle. Please refer to the Classification Schedule if you are unsure which cycle your area is on.

 WB00860_.GIF (262 bytes) October 2023  WB00860_.GIF (262 bytes) January 2024  WB00860_.GIF (262 bytes) May 2024  WB00860_.GIF (262 bytes) September 2024
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Classification Schedule 2023 in pdf format
Classification Schedule 2024 in pdf format


Non-Area Scheduling
This option allows participation in your choice of the classification programs at times other than when your Area is scheduled. It gives you the flexibility to classify when it is most convenient for you.

October 2023
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Area 1
Connecticut

Western Maryland
Allegany, Garrett

Maine

Massachusetts

New Hampshire

Southwest Pennsylvania
Armstrong, Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Clarion, Clearfield, Fayette, Indiana, Jefferson, Somerset, Westmoreland

Rhode Island

Vermont

Area 2
Alabama

Louisiana

Mississippi

Area 3
Eastern Iowa
Allamakee, Benton, Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Cedar, Chickasaw, Clayton, Clinton, Davis, Delaware, Des Moines, Dubuque, Fayette, Floyd, Grundy, Henry, Howard, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Jones, Keokuk, Lee, Linn, Louisa, Mahaska, Mitchell, Muscatine, Poweshiek, Scott, Tama, Van Buren, Wapello, Washington, Winneshiek, Worth

West Central Wisconsin
Adams, Crawford, Grant, Juneau, Lacrosse, Monroe, Portage, Richland, Sauk, Vernon, Wood

Area 4
Arkansas

Missouri

Top - Classification Schedule

November 2023
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Area 1
New Jersey

Eastern Pennsylvania
Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Delaware, Lackawanna, Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia, Pike, Schuylkill, Susquehanna, Wayne, Wyoming

Area 2
Southern Indiana
Bartholomew, Brown, Clark, Clay, Crawford, Daviess, Dearborn, Decatur, Dubois, Fayette, Floyd, Franklin, Gibson, Greene, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Jennings, Johnson, Knox, Lawrence, Martin, Monroe, Morgan, Ohio, Orange, Owen, Perry, Pike, Posey, Ripley, Rush, Scott, Shelby, Spencer, Sullivan, Switzerland, Union, Vanderburgh, Vigo, Warrick, Washington

Kentucky

Tennessee

Area 3
Southeastern Minnesota
Anoka, Benton, Blue Earth, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Dodge, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Hennepin, Houston, Isanti, Kanabec, Le Sueur, McLeod, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Mower, Nicollet, Olmstead, Ramsey, Rice, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, Stearns, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca, Washington, Winona, Wright

Northwest Wisconsin
Barron, Buffalo, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, St. Croix, Trempealeau

Area 4
Southern Idaho
Ada, Adams, Bannock, Bear Lake, Bingham, Blaine, Boise, Bonneville, Butte, Camas, Canton, Caribou, Cassia, Clark, Custer, Elmore, Franklin, Fremont, Gem, Gooding, Idaho, Jefferson, Jerome, Lemhi, Lincoln, Madison, Minidoka, Oneida, Owyhee, Payette, Power, Teton, Twin Falls, Valley, Washington

Montana

Eastern Oregon
Baker, Malheur, Union, Wallowa

Utah

Top - Classification Schedule

December 2023
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Area 1
South Central Pennsylvania
Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Mifflin, Perry, York

Area 2
Northern Indiana
Adams, Allen, Benton, Blackford, Boone, Carroll, Cass, De Kalb, Delaware, Elkhart, Fountain, Fulton, Grant, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Henry, Howard, Huntingdon, Jasper, Jay, Kosciusko, Lagrange, Lake, LaPorte, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Miami, Montgomery, Newton, Noble, Parke, Porter, Pulaski, Putnam, Randolph, St. Joseph, Starke, Steuben, Tippecanoe, Tipton, Vermillion, Wabash, Warren, Wayne, Wells, White, Whitely


Upper Michigan
Alger, Baraga, Delta, Dickinson, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Keweenaw, Marquette, Menominee, Ontonagon, Schoolcraft

Western Ohio
Adams, Allen, Auglaize, Brown, Butler, Champaign, Clark, Clermont, Darke, Defiance, Delaware, Fayette, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardin, Henry, Highland, Logan, Lucas, Madison, Marion, Mercer, Miami, Montgomery, Ottawa, Paulding, Pickaway, Pike, Preble, Putnam, Ross, Sandusky, Scioto, Seneca, Shelby, Union, Van Wert, Warren, Williams, Wood, Wyandot

Area 3
Northern Wisconsin
Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Douglas, Florence, Forest, Iron, Lincoln, Marinette, Oneida, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Taylor, Vilas, Washburn

Area 4
Arizona

Southern California
Fresno, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Monterey, Orange, Riverside, San Benito, San Bernadino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Tulare, Ventura

Top - Classification Schedule

January 2024
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Area 1
Central New York
Broome, Cayuga, Chemung, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Herkimer, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Ontario, Otsego, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins, Wayne, Yates

Area 2
Florida

Georgia

South Carolina

Area 3
Central/Western Iowa
Adair, Adams, Appanoose, Audubon, Boone, Buena Vista, Calhoun, Carroll, Cass, Cerro Gordo, Cherokee, Clarke, Clay, Crawford, Dallas, Decatur, Dickinson, Emmet, Franklin, Fremont, Greene, Guthrie, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardin, Harrison, Humboldt, Ida, Jasper, Kossuth, Lucas, Lyon, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Mills, Monona, Monroe, Montgomery, O?Brien, Osceola, Page, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Pocahontas, Polk, Pottawattamie, Ringgold, Sac, Shelby, Sioux, Story, Taylor, Union, Warren, Wayne, Webster, Winnebago, Woodbury, Wright

Southwestern Minnesota
Big Stone, Brown, Chippewa,Cottonwood, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac Qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, Murray, Noble, Pipestone, Pope, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Stevens, Swift, Watonwan, Yellow Medicine

South Dakota

Eastern Wisconsin
Brown, Calumet, Door, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Ozaukee, Sheboygan, Washington

Area 4
Colorado

Kansas

Nebraska

Wyoming

Top - Classification Schedule

February 2024
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Area 1
Western New York
Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans, Wyoming

North Carolina

Western Pennsylvania
Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Crawford, Erie, Forest, Greene, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango, Warren, Washington

Virginia

West Virginia

Area 2
Eastern Ohio
Ashland, Ashtabula, Athens, Belmont, Carroll, Columbiana, Coshocton, Cuyahoga, Erie, Fairfield, Gallia, Geauga, Guernsey, Harrison, Hocking, Holmes, Huron, Jackson, Jefferson, Knox, Lake, Lawrence, Licking, Lorain, Mahoning, Medina, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Morrow, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Portage, Richland, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, Tuscarawas, Vinton, Washington, Wayne

Area 3
Northwestern Illinois
Carroll, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside, Winnebago

Northern Minnesota
Aitkin, Becker, Beltrami, Carlton, Cass, Clay, Clearwater, Cook, Crow Wing, Douglas, Grant, Hubbard, Itasca, Kittson, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Morrison, Norman, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pine, Polk, Red Lake, Roseau, St. Louis, Todd, Traverse, Wadena, Wilkin

North Dakota

Southwestern Wisconsin
Dane, Green, Iowa, Lafayette

Area 4
Northern Idaho
Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Clearwater, Kootenai, Latah, Lewis, Nez Perce, Shoshone

Western Oregon
Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Coos, Crook, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lake, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Morrow, Multnomah, Polk, Sherman, Tillamook, Umatilla, Wasco, Washington, Wheeler, Yamhill

Washington

Top - Classification Schedule

March 2024
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Area 1
Delaware

Maryland
Anne, Arundel, Baltimore, Baltimore City, Calvert, Caroline, Carroll, Cecil, Charles, Dorchester, Frederick, Harford, Howard, Kent, Montgomery, Prince Georges, Queen Annes, Somerset, St. Marys, Talbot, Washington, Wicomico, Worchester

Northeastern New York
Clinton, Franklin, Jefferson, Lewis, Oswego, St. Lawrence

Area 2
Northern Michigan
Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Arenac, Bay, Benzie, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Chippewa, Clare, Crawford, Emmet, Genesee, Gladwin, Grand Traverse, Gratiot, Huron, Iosco, Isabella, Kalkaska, Lake, Lapeer, Leelanau, Luce, Mackinac, Manistee, Mason, Mecosta, Midland, Missaukee, Montcalm, Montmorency, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Ogemaw, Osceola, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon, Saginaw, St. Clair, Sanilac, Shiawassee, Tuscola, Wexford

Area 3
Northeastern Illinois
Boone, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, Lasalle, McHenry, Will

Southeastern Wisconsin
Columbia, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Jefferson, Kenosha, Marquette, Milwaukee, Racine, Rock, Walworth, Waukesha

Area 4
New Mexico

Oklahoma

Texas

Top - Classification Schedule

April 2024
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Area 1
Eastern New York
Albany, Bronx, Columbia, Dutchess, Essex, Fulton, Greene, Hamilton, Kings, Montgomery, Nassau, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Rensselaer, Richmond, Rockland, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster, Warren, Washington, Westchester

North Central Pennsylvania
Bradford, Cameron, Centre, Clinton, Columbia, Elk, Lycoming, McKean, Montour, Northumberland, Potter, Snyder, Sullivan, Tioga, Union

Area 2
Southern Michigan
Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Clinton, Eaton, Hillside, Ingham, Ionia, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, Ottawa, St. Joseph, Van Buren, Washtenaw, Wayne

Area 3
Illinois
Adams, Alexander, Bond, Brown, Bureau, Calhoun, Cass, Champaign, Christian, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, DeWitt, Douglass, Edgar, Edwards, Effingham, Fayette, Ford, Franklin, Fulton, Gallatin, Greene, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardin, Henderson, Henry, Iroquois, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Jersey, Johnson, Kankakee, Knox, Lawrence, Livingston, Logan, Macon, Macoupin, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Mason, Massac, McDonough, McLean, Menard, Mercer, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Moultrie, Peoria, Perry, Piatt, Pike, Pope, Pulaski, Putnam, Randolph, Richland, Rock Island, Saline, Sangamon, Schuyler, Scott, Shelby, St. Clair, Stark, Tazewell, Union, Vermillion, Wabash, Washington, Wayne, White, Williamson, Woodford

Central Wisconsin
Langlade, Marathon, Menominee, Oconto, Outagamie, Shawano, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago

Area 4
Northern California
Alameda, Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra, Costa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Glenn, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Marin, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Modoc, Mono, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tuolumne, Yolo, Yuba

Nevada

Top - Classification Schedule

May 2024
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Area 1
Connecticut

Western Maryland
Allegany, Garrett

Maine

Massachusetts

New Hampshire

Southwest Pennsylvania
Armstrong, Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Clarion, Clearfield, Fayette, Indiana, Jefferson, Somerset, Westmoreland

Rhode Island

Vermont

Area 2
Alabama

Louisiana

Mississippi

Area 3
Eastern Iowa
Allamakee, Benton, Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Cedar, Chickasaw, Clayton, Clinton, Davis, Delaware, Des Moines, Dubuque, Fayette, Floyd, Grundy, Henry, Howard, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Jones, Keokuk, Lee, Linn, Louisa, Mahaska, Mitchell, Muscatine, Poweshiek, Scott, Tama, Van Buren, Wapello, Washington, Winneshiek, Worth

West Central Wisconsin
Adams, Crawford, Grant, Juneau, Lacrosse, Monroe, Portage, Richland, Sauk, Vernon, Wood

Area 4
Arkansas

Missouri

Top - Classification Schedule

June 2024
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Area 1
New Jersey

Eastern Pennsylvania
Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Delaware, Lackawanna, Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia, Pike, Schuylkill, Susquehanna, Wayne, Wyoming

Area 2
Southern Indiana
Bartholomew, Brown, Clark, Clay, Crawford, Daviess, Dearborn, Decatur, Dubois, Fayette, Floyd, Franklin, Gibson, Greene, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Jennings, Johnson, Knox, Lawrence, Martin, Monroe, Morgan, Ohio, Orange, Owen, Perry, Pike, Posey, Ripley, Rush, Scott, Shelby, Spencer, Sullivan, Switzerland, Union, Vanderburgh, Vigo, Warrick, Washington

Kentucky

Tennessee

Area 3
Southeastern Minnesota
Anoka, Benton, Blue Earth, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Dodge, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Hennepin, Houston, Isanti, Kanabec, Le Sueur, McLeod, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Mower, Nicollet, Olmstead, Ramsey, Rice, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, Stearns, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca, Washington, Winona, Wright

Northwest Wisconsin
Barron, Buffalo, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, St. Croix, Trempealeau

Area 4
Southern Idaho
Ada, Adams, Bannock, Bear Lake, Bingham, Blaine, Boise, Bonneville, Butte, Camas, Canton, Caribou, Cassia, Clark, Custer, Elmore, Franklin, Fremont, Gem, Gooding, Idaho, Jefferson, Jerome, Lemhi, Lincoln, Madison, Minidoka, Oneida, Owyhee, Payette, Power, Teton, Twin Falls, Valley, Washington

Montana

Eastern Oregon
Baker, Malheur, Union, Wallowa

Utah

Top - Classification Schedule

July 2024
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Area 1
South Central Pennsylvania
Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Mifflin, Perry, York

Area 2
Northern Indiana
Adams, Allen, Benton, Blackford, Boone, Carroll, Cass, De Kalb, Delaware, Elkhart, Fountain, Fulton, Grant, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Henry, Howard, Huntingdon, Jasper, Jay, Kosciusko, Lagrange, Lake, LaPorte, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Miami, Montgomery, Newton, Noble, Parke, Porter, Pulaski, Putnam, Randolph, St. Joseph, Starke, Steuben, Tippecanoe, Tipton, Vermillion, Wabash, Warren, Wayne, Wells, White, Whitely

Upper Michigan
Alger, Baraga, Delta, Dickinson, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Keweenaw, Marquette, Menominee, Ontonagon, Schoolcraft

Western Ohio
Adams, Allen, Auglaize, Brown, Butler, Champaign, Clark, Clermont, Darke, Defiance, Delaware, Fayette, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardin, Henry, Highland, Logan, Lucas, Madison, Marion, Mercer, Miami, Montgomery, Ottawa, Paulding, Pickaway, Pike, Preble, Putnam, Ross, Sandusky, Scioto, Seneca, Shelby, Union, Van Wert, Warren, Williams, Wood, Wyandot

Area 3
Northern Wisconsin
Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Douglas, Florence, Forest, Iron, Lincoln, Marinette, Oneida, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Taylor, Vilas, Washburn

Area 4
Arizona

Southern California
Fresno, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Monterey, Orange, Riverside, San Benito, San Bernadino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Tulare, Ventura

Top - Classification Schedule

August 2024
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Area 1
Central New York
Broome, Cayuga, Chemung, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Herkimer, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Ontario, Otsego, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins, Wayne, Yates

Area 2
Florida

Georgia

South Carolina

Area 3
Central/Western Iowa
Adair, Adams, Appanoose, Audubon, Boone, Buena Vista, Calhoun, Carroll, Cass, Cerro Gordo, Cherokee, Clarke, Clay, Crawford, Dallas, Decatur, Dickinson, Emmet, Franklin, Fremont, Greene, Guthrie, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardin, Harrison, Humboldt, Ida, Jasper, Kossuth, Lucas, Lyon, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Mills, Monona, Monroe, Montgomery, O?Brien, Osceola, Page, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Pocahontas, Polk, Pottawattamie, Ringgold, Sac, Shelby, Sioux, Story, Taylor, Union, Warren, Wayne, Webster, Winnebago, Woodbury, Wright

Southwestern Minnesota
Big Stone, Brown, Chippewa,Cottonwood, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac Qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, Murray, Noble, Pipestone, Pope, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Stevens, Swift, Watonwan, Yellow Medicine

South Dakota

Eastern Wisconsin
Brown, Calumet, Door, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Ozaukee, Sheboygan, Washington

Area 4
Colorado

Kansas

Nebraska

Wyoming

Top - Classification Schedule

SEPTEMBER 2024
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Area 1
Western New York
Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans, Wyoming

North Carolina

Western Pennsylvania
Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Crawford, Erie, Forest, Greene, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango, Warren, Washington

Virginia

West Virginia

Area 2
Eastern Ohio
Ashland, Ashtabula, Athens, Belmont, Carroll, Columbiana, Coshocton, Cuyahoga, Erie, Fairfield, Gallia, Geauga, Guernsey, Harrison, Hocking, Holmes, Huron, Jackson, Jefferson, Knox, Lake, Lawrence, Licking, Lorain, Mahoning, Medina, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Morrow, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Portage, Richland, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, Tuscarawas, Vinton, Washington, Wayne

Area 3
Northwestern Illinois
Carroll, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside, Winnebago

Northern Minnesota
Aitkin, Becker, Beltrami, Carlton, Cass, Clay, Clearwater, Cook, Crow Wing, Douglas, Grant, Hubbard, Itasca, Kittson, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Morrison, Norman, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pine, Polk, Red Lake, Roseau, St. Louis, Todd, Traverse, Wadena, Wilkin

North Dakota

Southwestern Wisconsin
Dane, Green, Iowa, Lafayette

Area 4
Northern Idaho
Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Clearwater, Kootenai, Latah, Lewis, Nez Perce, Shoshone

Western Oregon
Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Coos, Crook, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lake, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Morrow, Multnomah, Polk, Sherman, Tillamook, Umatilla, Wasco, Washington, Wheeler, Yamhill

Washington

Top - Classification Schedule

October 2024
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Area 1
Delaware

Maryland
Anne, Arundel, Baltimore, Baltimore City, Calvert, Caroline, Carroll, Cecil, Charles, Dorchester, Frederick, Harford, Howard, Kent, Montgomery, Prince Georges, Queen Annes, Somerset, St. Marys, Talbot, Washington, Wicomico, Worchester

Northeastern New York
Clinton, Franklin, Jefferson, Lewis, Oswego, St. Lawrence

Area 2
Northern Michigan
Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Arenac, Bay, Benzie, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Chippewa, Clare, Crawford, Emmet, Genesee, Gladwin, Grand Traverse, Gratiot, Huron, Iosco, Isabella, Kalkaska, Lake, Lapeer, Leelanau, Luce, Mackinac, Manistee, Mason, Mecosta, Midland, Missaukee, Montcalm, Montmorency, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Ogemaw, Osceola, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon, Saginaw, St. Clair, Sanilac, Shiawassee, Tuscola, Wexford

Area 3
Northeastern Illinois
Boone, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, Lasalle, McHenry, Will

Southeastern Wisconsin
Columbia, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Jefferson, Kenosha, Marquette, Milwaukee, Racine, Rock, Walworth, Waukesha

Area 4
New Mexico

Oklahoma

Texas

Top - Classification Schedule

November 2024
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Area 1
Eastern New York
Albany, Bronx, Columbia, Dutchess, Essex, Fulton, Greene, Hamilton, Kings, Montgomery, Nassau, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Rensselaer, Richmond, Rockland, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster, Warren, Washington, Westchester

North Central Pennsylvania
Bradford, Cameron, Centre, Clinton, Columbia, Elk, Lycoming, McKean, Montour, Northumberland, Potter, Snyder, Sullivan, Tioga, Union

Area 2
Southern Michigan
Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Clinton, Eaton, Hillside, Ingham, Ionia, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, Ottawa, St. Joseph, Van Buren, Washtenaw, Wayne

Area 3
Illinois
Adams, Alexander, Bond, Brown, Bureau, Calhoun, Cass, Champaign, Christian, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, DeWitt, Douglass, Edgar, Edwards, Effingham, Fayette, Ford, Franklin, Fulton, Gallatin, Greene, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardin, Henderson, Henry, Iroquois, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Jersey, Johnson, Kankakee, Knox, Lawrence, Livingston, Logan, Macon, Macoupin, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Mason, Massac, McDonough, McLean, Menard, Mercer, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Moultrie, Peoria, Perry, Piatt, Pike, Pope, Pulaski, Putnam, Randolph, Richland, Rock Island, Saline, Sangamon, Schuyler, Scott, Shelby, St. Clair, Stark, Tazewell, Union, Vermillion, Wabash, Washington, Wayne, White, Williamson, Woodford

Central Wisconsin
Langlade, Marathon, Menominee, Oconto, Outagamie, Shawano, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago

Area 4
Northern California
Alameda, Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra, Costa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Glenn, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Marin, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Modoc, Mono, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tuolumne, Yolo, Yuba

Nevada

Top - Classification Schedule

December 2024
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Area 1
Connecticut

Western Maryland
Allegany, Garrett

Maine

Massachusetts

New Hampshire

Southwest Pennsylvania
Armstrong, Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Clarion, Clearfield, Fayette, Indiana, Jefferson, Somerset, Westmoreland

Rhode Island

Vermont

Area 2
Alabama

Louisiana

Mississippi

Area 3
Eastern Iowa
Allamakee, Benton, Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Cedar, Chickasaw, Clayton, Clinton, Davis, Delaware, Des Moines, Dubuque, Fayette, Floyd, Grundy, Henry, Howard, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Jones, Keokuk, Lee, Linn, Louisa, Mahaska, Mitchell, Muscatine, Poweshiek, Scott, Tama, Van Buren, Wapello, Washington, Winneshiek, Worth

West Central Wisconsin
Adams, Crawford, Grant, Juneau, Lacrosse, Monroe, Portage, Richland, Sauk, Vernon, Wood

Area 4
Arkansas

Missouri

Top - Classification Schedule

Classification Participation Program Fees
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Click to view larger/printable version
Classification Pricing Schedule

    * Non-Area applicants are responsible for classifier travel expense and travel time ($60/hour)

Classification Contracting
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Herds classifying at least three times annually may benefit by contracting their classification. A 10% discount to the herd's annual classification costs is applied at the completion of the contract. Holstein COMPLETESM herds are eligible for this program, with the 10% discount applying to the two classification not included as a part of COMPLETE.

  • Enroll by November 10 for contract classifications in the next calendar year.
  • Applicant must specify (at the time of enrollment) which months classifications are desired.
  • See above for area and non-area classification pricing. At the completion of the contract,
    a 10% discount will be applied to the total cost of the classifications.

Special Service Fees
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Special Service Fee
  If no scheduling request is made or a scheduling request made at the time of application is met, and a subsequent request for an additional schedule change is made. $100
  Applicant requesting and receiving a time of day change, but not a date change and the change requires rescheduling other herds. $75
  Herds necessitating a move to another classifier's schedule in order to accommodate their request for a scheduling change. $150



Breed Age Average Percentages (BAA%) for Holstein Cows
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To calculate your BAA%:
1. Calculate an age and stage of lactation adjusted score.
 
a. Determine how old (months) the cow was and what lactation she was in when she was classified. Look up age adjustment factor on the table below.
 
b. Determine how many months in milk and what lactation she was in when she was classified. Look up stage adjustment factor in the table below.
 
Note: No adjustment factors are used if the cow is permanently scored (i.e., over 60 months of age).
2. Breed Age Adjusted score is calculated by comparing the cow's adjusted score to breed average and multiplying by 100. The average adjusted score for the Holstein breed is 80.2 points.

baa_formula

  AGE
Lactation 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1  
Months of Age 1-25 26-27 28-29 30-31 32-33 34-35 36-38 39-41 42-59  
Adjustment Factor 1.1 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.0 -0.1 -0.4 -0.9  
  AGE
Lactation 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 >3 3 3
Months of Age 1-38 39-41 42-44 45-47 48-50 51-54 55-59 1-52 53-56 57-59
Adjustment Factor 0.6 0.3 0.0 -0.2 -0.4 -0.6 -1.0 0.5 0.2 0.0


  STAGE OF LACTATION
Lactation 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2
Months in Milk 0-1 2-3 4-5 6-7 8-10 >10 Dry Springing 0-1 2-3 4-6
Adjustment Factor 2.7 2.6 2.5 2.4 2.2 2.0 2.2 1.6 0.8 0.9 1.1
  STAGE OF LACTATION
Lactation 2 2 2 2 >3 3 3 3 3 3 3
Months in Milk 7-10 >10 Dry Spinging 0-1 2-3 4-6 7-10 >10 Dry Springing
Adjustment Factor 1.0 0.9 1.0 0.5 -0.2 -0.1 0.0 0.0 -0.1 0.0 -0.6



The lowest ten percent of the individual cow BAAs are excluded from the official herd BAA. In cases where ten percent of the entire herd inventory does not equal a whole number, the number of cows to be excluded will be rounded down to the closest whole number. Example; if the entire herd inventory includes 56 cows with BAAs, the five cows with the lowest individual BAAs will be excluded from the official herd BAA.

Cows cancelled the day of classification will be considered part of the entire herd inventory. They will be excluded from the official herd BAA only if their individual BAAs rank in the lowest ten percent of the herd. Cows with a previous score(s) that are marked "NIC" or "60 Day Rule" will be considered part of the entire herd inventory. They will be assigned the BAA reflective of their score and age at their most recent classification. Cows with no previous score that are marked "NIC" will not be considered part of the entire herd inventory.

Questions? Call 800.952.5200

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Recording Worksheet header

  ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
 Lact#:   Number of calvings or current lactation number.
 C:   Stage Code: D-Dry; S-Springing
 Date Calv:   Date of last calving
  ORDERS
 M:   HolsteinMate
  1-9 Number of mating groups.
 P:   Pedigrees:
  3-3 Generation Pedigree
      4-4 Generation Pedigree
      5-5 Generation Pedigree

Linear Descriptive Trait header

Linear Descriptive Traits brochure   Linear Descriptive Traits Guide with photos
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pdf   Linear Descriptive Traits
pdf   Linear Descriptive Traits - Spanish
   
   
   


 FORM
  Stature (ST)
  Strength (SR)
 50
 
 50
 
 45
-Extremely Tall
 45
-Extremely Strong and Wide
 40
 
 40
 
 35
-Tall
 35
-Strong
 30
 
 30
 
 25
-Intermediate
 25
-Intermediate
 20
 
 20
 
 15
-Short
 15
-Narrow
 10
 
 10
 
 5
-Extremely Short
 5
-Extremely Narrow
 1
 
 1
 

  Body Depth (BD)   Dairy Form (DF)
 50    50  
 45  -Extremely Deep  45  -Extremely Open
 40    40  
 35  -Deep Body  35  -Open
 30    30  
 25  -Intermediate  25  -Intermediate
 20    20  
 15  -Shallow  15  -Tight
 10    10  
 5  -Extremely Shallow  5  -Extremely Tight
 1    1  

RUMP
  Rump Angle (RA)   Rump Width (RW)
 50    50  
 45  -Extremely Sloped  45  -Extremely Wide
 40    40  
 35 -Moderate Slope  35  -Wide
 30    30  
 25 -Slight Slope  25  -Intermediate
 20    20  
 15 -Level Rump  15  -Slightly Narrow
 10    10  
 5  -High Pins  5 -Extremely Narrow
 1    1  

 FEET and LEGS
  Rear Legs, Rear View (RL)   Rear Legs, Side View (LS)   Foot Angle (FA)
 50    50    50  
 45  -Tracks Extremely Straight  45  -Extremely Sickled  45  -Extremely Steep
 40    40    40  
 35  -Nearly Straight  35  -Slightly Sickled  35  -Steep
 30    30    30  
 25 -Slight Hock-In  25  -Intermediate  25  -Intermediate
 20    20    20  
 15  -Definite Hock-In  15  -Slightly Posty  15  -Slightly Low
 10    10    10  
 5  -Extreme Hock-In  5  -Extremely Posty  5  -Extremely Low
 1    1    1  

 UDDER
  Fore Udder Attachment (FU)   Rear Udder Height (UH)
 50    50  
 45  -Extremely Strong  45  -Extremely High
 40    40  
 35  -Strong  35  -High
 30    30  
 25  -Intermediate  25  -Intermediate
 20    20  
 15   -Loose  15  -Low
 10    10  
 5  -Extremely Loose  5  -Extremely Low
 1    1  

  Rear Udder Width (UW)   Udder Cleft (UC)   Udder Depth (UD)
 50    50    50  
 45  -Extremely Wide  45  -Extremely Strong  45  -Extremely Shallow
 40    40    40  
 35  -Wide  35  -Strong  35  -Well Above Hock
 30    30    30  
 25  -Intermediate  25  -Intermediate  25  -Intermediate
 20    20    20  
 15  -Narrow  15  -Weak  15  -Udder Floor at Hock
 10    10    10  
 5  -Extremely Narrow  5  -Extremely Weak  5  -Extremely Deep
 1    1    1  

 TEATS
  Front Teat Placement (TP)   Teat Length (TL)
 50    50  
 45   -Extremely Close  45  -Extremely Long
 40    40  
 35  -Close  35  -Long
 30    30  
 25 -Centrally Placed  25  -Intermediate
 20    20  
 15  -Wide  15  -Short
 10    10  
 5  -Extremely Wide  5  -Extremely Short
 1    1  

 RESEARCH TRAITS
  Udder Tilt (UT)   Rear Teat Placement (RT)   Front Foot Direction (FF)
 50    50    50  
 45  -Extreme Forward Tilt  45  -Extreme Forward Tilt  45  - Straight, no toe out
 40    40    40  
 35  -Slight Forward Tilt  35  -Slight Forward Tilt  35  - Very slight toe out
 30    30    30  
 25  -Nearly Level  25  -Nearly Level  25  - Slight toe out
 20    20    20  
 15 -Rearward Tilt  15 -Rearward Tilt  15  - Moderate toe out
 10    10    10  
 5 -Extreme Rearward Tilt  5 -Extreme Rearward Tilt  5  - Extreme toe out
 1    1    1  

 PREV CLASS DATE/SCORES:  Date of last Classification, Major Breakdown Scores and Final Score from last Classification
 PERM:  P designates that the final score from the last Classification was a Permanent Score.
(New Scores)      FEMALES  MALES
FC:   Front End/Capacity  15%  40%
DS:   Dairy Strength  20%   25%
RP:  Rump  5%  10%
FL:   Feet and legs  20%  25%
UD:   Udder  40%  
FS:   Final Score    
PRED BAA:    Expected BAA for this Classification.

 MAJOR BREAKDOWN AND FINAL SCORE BRACKETS
 Major Breakdown  Final Score
 Excellent  (E)  90-100 Points  Excellent  90-97 Points
 Very Good  (V)  85-89  Very Good  85-89
 Good Plus  (+)  80-84  Good Plus  80-84
 Good  (G)  75-79  Good  75-79
 Fair  (F)  65-74  Fair  65-74
 Poor  (P)  1-64  Poor  50-64


 





Sire Evaluation for TypeSM (SETSM) Classification
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Sire Evaluation for Type is a classification done at the request of an AI organization. The AI will request the Holstein Association to classify a portion of a producer's herd. The program is developed to improve the breed as a whole and also to help you breed better cows.

The AI organization will send you a Herd Inventory, requesting the SET classification and indicating which animals the classifier will evaluate.

You will need to provide the classifier with information so that the data can be verified, and if additional cows need to be added to the inventory.

Rear of cows in barn
For more information about the SET Classification, call the Holstein Association at 800.952.5200.

“Selective” Classification Program
This program is only available to a herd that has a SET (Area or Individual) scheduled.
red bullet You may choose any number of cows to classify up to 10. However, the number of animals the classifier is able to score will depend on their schedule.
red bullet You should notify the classifier upon arrival that you wish to utilize this option.
red bullet If the SET is canceled for any reason and you still wish to have additional animals scored you will be charged a $50 herd fee in addition to the cow fees for scoring the selected animals.
red bullet Scores assigned to animals in this program will not be used in the calculation of genetic evaluations (cow and bull PTATs).
red bullet All other classification policies apply.

Fees
1. $25 per animal.
2. $50 herd fee if the SET classification is canceled.

This classification program is different from all others as you sign-up at the time the classifier arrives at your farm. If you would like more information about this program or your SET, please call 800.952.5200.