WHFF has been instrumental in standardising pedigree codes, which are used by all major Holstein Associations.

This section provides examples of pedigree certificates from different countries, with in some cases explanations of the layout and meaning of the information contained.

Pedigree certificates, whether in electronic or paper format, are key information providers to the animal and its ancestry's displaying all the individual animals important breeding components on production, conformation, genetic performance (index) and parentage. The value of validated pedigree information is becoming increasingly important as Holstein breeders throughout the world use sophisticated computer programs in deciding breeding and management policy.

Pedigree information provides information to address and overcome such important issues such as inbreeding, identifying pedigree lineage with a genetic, production or conformation weakness.

A link to an explanation of the EU legislation can be found here

Pedigree certificate examples

• Australia
• Czech Republic animal semen export
• Canada (en) - Canada (fr)
• Denmark
• Estonia
• France (fr)      (en)
• Germany
• Hungary
• Ireland
• Italy animal semen export
• Latvia
• Netherlands (animal) (en)  (fr)    (semen export)
• Poland
• Slovakia animal semen export
• Spain animal (sp)  semen export (en)
• UK
• USA (en) - USA (sp) - USA (ru)