2. The first information block on the left side of a pedigree provides you the animal’s complete identification and classification information. You will see the animal’s name, country of origin of the identification, identification number, RHA information, birth date and any genetic codes.

Classification information is found under the animal’s identification number. It includes the age of the animal at classification, final score and major classification categories. Cows scored after 12/1/2004 have five categories; Front End/Capacity, Dairy Strength, Rump, Feet & Legs, and Udder. Cows scored between 5/1/1993 and 11/30/2004 have five categories; Frame, Dairy Character, Body Capacity, Feet & Legs, and Udder. If an animal has been classified Excellent more than once, a multiple E designation may appear on this line after major category designations. Recognition as a Gold Medal Sire, Gold Medal Dam or Dam of Merit will be found on this line as well.

3. TPI™ (Total Performance Index) values appear on the same line as the name. TPI combines the Predicted Transmitting Ability (PTA) values for Protein, Fat, Type, Productive Life, Somatic Cell Score, Daughter Pregnancy Rate and Daughter Calving Ease. It also includes the Standard Transmitting Ability (STA) for Dairy Form and the Linear Composite indexes for Udder Composite and Feet & Legs Composite into one numeric value. TPI ranks animals on their ability to transmit a balance of these traits. For females, this value is labelled CTPI (Cow TPI).

For young animals (and older animals that do not have PTAs), a PTPI (Pedigree TPI) will be provided. Pedigree TPIs are calculated by adding the TPI of the sire and the CTPI of the dam and then dividing in half. PTPI estimates the potential transmitting ability of a young animal. It is preceded by a percentile ranking of P5 through P9 for the top 50% of animals born within a given year of birth.

4. The information block in the upper right corner reflects ownership information and the birth date of the animal on which the pedigree was produced. This block also designates if the animal is male or female and the animal’s barn ID or short name for AI bulls.

5. Predicted Transmitting Ability (PTA) information follows the animal’s identification and classification information. PTAs express the level of genetic superiority or inferiority an animal is expected to transmit to its offspring for a given production or type trait. These values are used to rank animals based on their genetic merit.

Line one indicates the Predicted Transmitting Ability for Milk (M), Fat (F), Protein (P), and Reliability (R) for production information. The date of the PTA for production calculation is also shown on this line. For young animals, the PTA values are estimated by averaging the parents’ PTAs. This is denoted with #.

Line two indicates the PTA for Net Merit (NM) and the PTA% for Fat and Protein. For males this line will also include the percent of U.S. daughters in the evaluation.

Line three shows PTAs for Productive Life (PL), Somatic Cell Score (SCS), Daughter Pregnancy Rate (DPR), and Daughter Calving Ease (DCE).

Line four provides the animal’s Predicted Transmitting Ability for Type (T), Udder Composite (UDC) and Feet and Legs Composite (FLC). The Reliability (R) for Type and the date of PTAT calculations are also shown on this line.

International genetic evaluations for type and production are labeled by printing MACE YIELD EVALUATION and/or MACE TYPE EVALUATION on the line above the PTA data. The TPI value will be followed by an M. If a conversion formula is used to convert a foreign type evaluation to a U.S. base then CONVERTED TYPE EVALUATION will be printed above the PTA data. These evaluations are based on either conversion formulas or Multiple Across Country Evaluations (MACE). Whenever the PTPI of an offspring of a bull with a MACE or converted proof is calculated a C or an M will appear after the PTPI value until U.S. information is available.

Line five will show the daughter averages for Milk, Fat, Protein, and Type for a bull on a non-standard pedigree.

6. For females, production records follow the genetic information. Each main line indicates the type of testing program (for production records starting prior to 1/1/1997) or TriStar Option (for production records starting after 1/1/1997); age at calving; number of times milked per day; length of record in days; pounds of milk; DCRM (Data Collection Rating for milk); fat percent; pounds of fat; protein percent; pounds of protein; and DCRC (Data Collection Rating for components) during that lactation up to 305 days. A “V” at the end of the line indicates a verification test took place during the lactation. An “I” means an injection was used during the lactation. An “X” at the end of the line indicates that the record contains some extreme test-day data and that details are available under FREE MATERIALS. A second line of data is only included if the cow’s lactation is longer than 305 days (up to 365 days) for that lactation.

State and national leader records for Milk, Fat and Protein production are labeled on the line below the outstanding record. This recognition is based on DHIR and TriStar Premier records.

Once a cow produces more than 100,000 pounds of milk in her lifetime, total production information (LIFE) appears on the pedigree.

Type of Testing Program Labels

7. Show records for females are found under the production records if there is room. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place class winners of the National and International shows are currently added to the database. All-American, Reserve All-American, and Honorable Mention All-American winners are also included in the database.