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The Society ► LETTER TO
PROSPECTIVE STUD BREEDERS
[
KLIEK
HIER VIR DIE AFRIKAANSE WEERGAWE
]
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Dear
Madam/Sir
APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP
The
Management of our Society was pleased to learn that you are interested
in membership of the Society. Complete the accompanying application
form. Please note that we do not accept any application without the
necessary proof of payment to both the Association and SA Stud Book.
We have
to draw your attention to the fact that before membership is accepted,
a recognised cattle breeder of the Society or one of our technical
officials has to visit the applicant to discuss the matter with him
and to ensure that the necessary facilities are available for cattle
breeding such as, for example, camps, kraals, crushes, scales, etc. As
soon as your completed applications forms have been received, we will
arrange with a person in your area or with one of our officials to
visit you for this purpose.
STUD
NAME
According to the Act of the Registration of Stud Book livestock it is
compulsory for every member to register a stud name (prefix).
The Stud Book Society has the sole right to register such a stud name.
As many thousands of words have already been registered for breeders
of all breeds and because the names of towns and cities cannot be
registered as a prefix, we kindly request that you send us a list of
names in the order of your preference of which one could possibly be
registered for you as a prefix. As the more general stud names have
already been registered for other breeders, we recommend that you make
the choice of words as original as possible.
MINIMUM
PRODUCTION REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AFRIKANER IN RESPECT OF
CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS
The
following minimum production requirements have to be met:
1.
REPRODUCTION
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1.1 |
A heifer has to
calf for the first time BEFORE or AT 42 months of
age. The requirement is applicable to all heifers born after
1 January. |
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1.2 |
No
Inter-Calf Period may exceed 790 days.
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• |
The Association, in collaboration
with SA Stud Book, will check the reproduction status of all
female animals annually. |
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• |
Animals that do not meet the minimum requirements will be
identified. The owner will be informed in writing of the problem
cases. Thereafter the owner has 3 months time to address
the problem cases and to provide the necessary feedback to the
Association. If the office does not receive any written
representations or extenuating reasons for the problem
animals, the Association has the right to inform SA Stud Book
that no further calves of the cow will be accepted for
registration and that the animal is cancelled. |
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1.3 |
Female animals have to meet the minimum
fertility standards mentioned below. The owner will be given
three months to act, after which the Association will
instruct SA Stud Book to do the necessary irreversible
cancellations. Thereafter no further calves will be accepted
from the particular cow. |
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Number of calvings |
Maximum average Inter-calf Periods
(ICP) of cow |
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2 |
730 days |
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3
and 4 calvings |
660 days |
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5
and more calvings |
500 days |
2.
MILK PRODUCTION
2.1
A
cow that weans more than two calves with an index below 90
shall summarily be culled.
(Not a rejection requirement, but should merely be used as a guideline
for milk production)
3.
GROWTH ABILITY
(Participation in Performance Testing is compulsory for all Category A
members, where indexes can serve as guidelines for the owner and the
selector.)
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3.1 |
Heifers (Phase B) |
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a. |
Weaning Index 90 |
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b. |
Year Index 90 |
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c. |
18-Month Index 90 |
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If
heifers are selected before 18 months, a year index will be
required. Otherwise a Weaning and an 18-Month Index will be
required.
If one index is below 90, but the average of the
available indexes is 90 or higher, the animal will be selected
if the
appearance has particular merit. |
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3.2 |
Bulls (Phase B) |
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a. |
Weaning Index 90 |
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b. |
Year Index 90 |
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c. |
18-Month Index 90 |
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d. |
Scrotum circumference at least 30 cm |
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No
bull will be selected before 18 months and no exception
rule will apply. |
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3.3 |
Bulls (Phase C and D) |
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a. |
Weaning Index 90 |
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b. |
Average Daily Gain (ADG) Index at least 90 |
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c. |
Average Daily Age Gain (ADA) Index at least 90 |
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d. |
Scrotum circumference at least 30 cm |
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Bulls will be selected directly
following the completion of a test as a group.
All rejected bulls have to be
culled. |
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3.4 |
FUNCTIONAL APPEARANCE |
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3.4.1 |
Animals with the following
genetic deviations will be culled: |
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a. |
Hypoplastic testicles |
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b. |
Skew face |
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c. |
Short and long mandible |
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d. |
Woolly cilice |
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e. |
Laminitus |
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f. |
Hereditary twist in tail in top half of tail |
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g. |
Wild temperament |
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h. |
Any other clear genetic deviations |
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3.4.2 |
The following extremes will be
culled: |
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a. |
Weak constitution |
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b. |
Weak muscling |
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c. |
Bulls with female or ox-like appearance |
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d. |
Heifers with male or ox-like appearance |
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e. |
Pony types or extremely big animals |
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f. |
Very fine of extremely large-boned legs |
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g. |
Extremely upright, arched or cow-hoofed |
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h. |
Pigeon-toed or duck-toed, front paws, bent front legs |
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i. |
Heifers with defective udder development |
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j. |
Any other extremes. |
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All
official performance details and particulars of the animals must be
available during the selection.
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Bulls or female animals of which the mothers do not perform in terms
of the abovementioned norms of reproduction, may not be sold at
auctions held in conjunction with the Association.
PERFORMANCE TEST SCHEME
Our
Association regards Performance Testing as very valuable to assist
members to select their animals in the most effective way. It is thus
expected of members to join in the performance test scheme and it has
also been decided that members have to join the scheme no later than 3
years after the commencement of cattle breeding.
The officials of the Association have
also been instructed to assist our members in joining the scheme as
well as with their record keeping in terms of performance testing.
Participation in Phase A and B
of the scheme is compulsory.
TATTOOING OF ANIMALS
As has been outlined in the by-laws, all
animals have to be tattooed with a number in the left ear within 60
days after birth. A second characteristic, whether branding, ear code
or ear tag that corresponds with the tattoo number, has to also be
placed on the animal. A key for the ear code system is attached. If a
breeder uses ear tags, the tags have to be attached in the
right ear.
It is
required by the Act that all calves have to be tattooed in the left
ear with at least two letters (herd mark), over and above the tattoo
number. As the Association allocates the combinations of letters (herd
mark) to members, a combination will be registered for you as soon as
your membership application is received. On one of the sets of forms
that are sent to you provision has been made for combinations of
letters in the order of your choice.
The
tattoo number (serial number), year number and herd mark can be
attached to the ear as follows: (e.g. for an animal born in 1981 with
the serial number 123 and the herd mark AB)
In this regard you also have to study the
enclosed details regarding the marking of animals. The form relating
to your choice of method according to which you will mark your animals
has to be completed and
mailed to us together with the application form.
The
Association does not provide tattoo pliers. You can obtain it from
your cooperation or any other firm that sells livestock articles.
CALF REPORTS
The
Association provides calf books with forms that serve as notification
of births of calves and application forms for registration. The forms
are in two-fold and the original form (the white form) has to be sent
to the office within 90 days of the calf’s birth.
A calf
report book will be sent to you on finalisation of your membership. If
calves of registered or cows that can be registered arrive in the
meantime, you have to please inform us by letter of the birth by
providing the number of the cow as well as the date of birth and
gender of the calf so that the calf can be noted for the time being.
As soon as you receive the necessary calf books, you have to complete
your calf reports for all the calves born in your stud (including
those births that have been reported by letter) and send it to the
office.
AUXILIARY STUD BOOK ANIMALS
An
auxiliary stud book for pure bred Afrikaners has been compiled.
Purebred female animals may after inspection and if approved, be
included in the Auxiliary Stud Book and qualify after two generations
for inclusion in the Fully-Registered Stud Book.
If you
own purebred Afrikaner heifers or cows that you would want to have
selected for the Auxiliary Stud Book, we request that you inform us,
in which case we will arrange for the selection of your animals.
PURCHASE OF ANIMALS
When
breeders purchase registered animals or animals that can be registered
it is imperative that they compare the characteristics of the
cattle with the character numbers on the documents of the animals.
If there are any cattle of which the character does not correspond
with the character number on the document, the Association will refuse
to transfer the animal to your name and you will have to take up the
matter with the seller immediately.
MONIES PAYABLE
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a. |
Annual Membership
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R500,00 + VAT. |
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b. |
Stud fees. Stud fees are levied annually on all male and
female animals two years and older that are, according to the
records of the Association, in the possession of a member on 1
March every year. |
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The stud fees are currently R48,00
per animal per annum
with a minimum of R500,00
plus VAT
for 1-10 animals.
Late birth notifications are also levied when 92 days and
2 x 10 days are exceeded. |
NB:
VAT will be levied on the said fees.
Amounts are subject to change as decided at the Annual General
Meeting.
IDENTIFICATION OF STUD BOOK ANIMALS
According to the stipulations of the Constitution it is compulsory
that all calves of registered parents are tattooed within 60 days
after birth with the identification marks as prescribed by the
Association.
These
marks consist of the following:
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1. |
The stud mark as allocated by the
Association to each breeder for his exclusive use. This mark
consists of two or three letters that have to be attached in the
animal’s LEFT EAR together with the three-year figure
(see Nr. 3) and the serial number of the animal (see
Nr. 2). |
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2. |
The serial number of the animal that has to be tattooed in the
left ear with the stud mark (see 1 above) and the year
figure (see 3). |
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3. |
The year figure that has to be added in the ear together with
the stud mark, namely the figure 91 for the year 1991, 92 for
the year 1992, etc.
The stud mark, year mark and serial number can be added as
follows (For example for an animal with the stud mark AB, born
in 1991 with serial number 123). |
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You may choose any of the following methods to mark your animals: |
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a. |
To start at Nr. 1 every year.
The bulls and heifers born in a specific year can then be
numbered with one series. In other words, only one calf book is
used, in which case Nr. 1 may be a bull calf and Nr. 2 a heifer,
etc. up to the end of the year.
You then
start at Nr. 1 on 1 January of every calendar year again and continue
with the series until 31 December of
that year.
However,
if you prefer to mark the bulls annually from Nr. 1 with a series and
the heifers also from Nr. 1 with a separate series, it may also be
done.
In both
methods referred to above, it has to be clearly understood that the
series conclude with the birth of the last calf up to 31 December of
the specific year. |
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b. |
To start at Nr. 1 and to then continue to Nr. 999 and then start
again at Nr. 1.
You can
also use one joint series here for bulls and heifers or you can use a
separate series 1 to 999 for bulls and a separate series 1 to 999 for
heifers.
If you
decide on this method, the numbers have to continue until the number
999 has been reached, even if it takes a couple of years. You may then
not switch over before the time to Nr. 1.
You have
to please complete the form attached to the membership forms in
respect of the marking of animals according to your choice, and mail
it to us together with the membership application form.
The
method that you prefer is in this way captured on the computer and in
the future it will be compulsory for you to use the particular method. |
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4. |
Over and above the tattooing a second identification mark has to
be attached to animals. This mark may be any of the following: |
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a. |
Ear code notches that indicate the tattoo
number,
or |
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b. |
An ear tag in the right ear with the
number of the animal attached to it,
or |
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c. |
A
branding number, the same as the tattoo number. The branding
number is usually attached when the animal is old enough, but in any case before inspection for registration.
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Breeders
may thus use any of the abovementioned methods together with the
compulsory tattooing for marking animals. |
EAR-CODE SYSTEM
The
ear-code system (see attached example) has to be used if you
prefer to use code notches instead of ear tags or to brand your
animals. Tattooing as has already been indicated is compulsory.
The
Primrose McConnel System, of which an example is attached, is the only
system accepted by the Association.
It has
to be clearly understood that the notches that indicate the units in
the left ear and the notches that indicate the tens, have to be added
in the right ear. To read the code the breeder has to stand in
front of the animal and it has to be borne in mind that the animal’s
right ear is to the left-hand side of the breeder and the left ear to
the right-hand side of the breeder.
The
notches for the units and tens are always added on the outer
part of the animal’s ear, whilst the notches indicating the
hundreds are added on the inner side of the ear, that is to
say, close to the head.
BRANDING
Suitable
branding irons are necessary to brand the animals. The branding is
usually on the left or right shoulder, the left or right buttock or
the left or right hip. There is thus no limitation on the place
where the branding may be added.
It is
preferable that the letters or the numbers with which the branding is
done are not less than 5 cm long and that the angles are
reasonably curved. It is also advisable that the hair be removed from
the place where the branding is applied beforehand.
To
facilitate identification in the veld, it is advisable to brand the
year number on the animal, especially when code notches are used as a
second mark with the tattoo number.
Breeders
who use the branding number as a second mark with the tattoo number,
can brand the year number on top of or below the serial number or on
the shoulder, according to preference.
HOW TO USE TATTOO PLIERS
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1.
PREPARATION OF PLIERS |
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a. |
The pliers and numbers have to be properly cleaned. |
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b. |
Place the numbers in the pliers in the required position and
test the pliers on a piece of paper before you use it in order
to determine if the numbers have been applied properly. |
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2. ACCESSORIES |
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a. |
A tin of ordinary stove polish or tattoo paste (Zebra stove
polish is a popular marking material) |
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b. |
A soft brush or solid paint brush. If stove polish is used, it
has to be used in paste form. |
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3. HOW TO TATTOO |
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a. |
Rub the tattoo numbers thoroughly with the paste by using the
brush. |
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b. |
Then place the ear in the right position (see sketch) between
the jaws of the pliers. |
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c. |
Suddenly press the jaws of the pliers and press together until
the numbers clip right across the ear. |
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COMMENTS |
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a. |
It does not matter if the paste dries on the numbers before the
tattooing takes place. |
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b. |
Don’t try to rub over the ear before tattooing – by rubbing over
the ear you stimulate the blood flow that may cause the
eradication of the tattoo marks. |
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c. |
Don’t tattoo if the ear is full of ticks: first ensure that the
ear is tick-free. The surface of the ear has to be properly
healed. |
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d. |
If the ear is dirty, the surface that has to be tattooed can be
cleaned with a thumb slightly dipped in surgical spirits.
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SKETCH:
Inside of the
left ear
HOW TO USE THE TATTOO PLIERS:
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1. |
The tattoo pliers have to be applied between the
cartilage ridges with care. |
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2. |
The dotted line indicates the correct position of the number jaw
of the pliers. |
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3. |
The mark can be at the middle or bottom level of the ear, but
preferably at the middle level. |
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4. |
It is advised that if breeders tattoo the tattoo letters and
numbers in one row, the numbers be placed first so that it does
not touch the hair-covered tip of the ear, e.g. 123AB. The
letters can also be applied below or above the numbers e.g. |
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