Rules for the Functional Type Traits Appraisal Program
 
Adopted by the AJCA Board of Directors

March 9, 2003 

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1.   Authorization

  1. The primary object of this plan is to improve the breed of Jersey cattle through regular evaluation of economically important type traits.

  2. This program shall be under the supervision of the Executive Secretary, who shall direct the preparation of and furnish official forms and reports.

  3. Matters not covered by these rules shall be administered by the Executive Secretary.

2.   General Rules

  1. Only cows are evaluated.

  2. Individual traits are rated using a linear scale of 1 to 50. A Final Score, ranging from 50 to 99, is also assigned to each cow evaluated.

  3. The applicant has the option of having the Final Score assigned by the appraiser at the time of the appraisal or choosing to have a calculated Final Score. All cows evaluated will have the Final Score assigned by the same method.

  4. The Final Score assigned by the appraiser, or the calculated Final Score, will reflect the degree to which the cow approaches the most profitable expression of the high-priority traits of Dairy Form, Foot Angle, Fore Udder Attachment, Rear Udder Height, Rear Udder Width, Udder Cleft, Udder Depth, and Front Teat Placement. High-scoring cows must rate well in high-priority traits.

  5. All appraisals of individual traits and the Final Score are official immediately. Only official scores shall be printed on pedigrees and in advertising.

3.  Qualified Appraisers

  1. The appointment and approval of qualified appraisers shall be made by the Executive Secretary.

  2. No appraiser shall evaluate any animal in which he/she has any pecuniary interest.

  3. No appraiser shall accept any fee, gift or other remuneration from the owner(s) of any animal, or any other person or entity having a financial interest in any animal that he/she may evaluate.

4.  Conditions of Herd Evaluation

  1. The applicant must accept the appraiser assigned by the Association and agree to cooperate and adhere to these rules. Failure to do so will automatically terminate the appraisal and subject the applicant and/or owner(s) to disciplinary action by the Association’s Board of Directors.

  2. The appraiser shall have the authority to terminate a herd’s evaluation when, in his/her opinion, the environment is such that accuracy of evaluation is impaired.

  3. Should the herd evaluation be terminated while in progress, either by the applicant and/or owner(s) or the appraiser, the appraiser shall attempt to recommend that the herd’s appraisal be completed according to program rules.

  4. Penalty for failure to complete a herd evaluation is a three-year suspension from appraisal. The Board of Directors may impose additional penalties as it may determine to be appropriate.

  5. If the applicant is not satisfied after completion of an appraisal, a written protest may be filed with the Executive Secretary within 15 days. After investigation, the Executive Secretary may direct that the herd be re-appraised, if necessary.

  6. No records will be removed from the database except by action of the Board of Directors.

5.  Cows Required For Evaluation

  1. All females in the applicant’s herd that have calved and are identified by a registration or identification certificate issued by the Association, regardless of recorded ownership, must be available for evaluation.

  2. Scoring is required for all first- and second-lactation cows, with the exception of second-lactation cows that have already received at least one score in the first lactation and one in the second lactation.

  3. All cows that are dry after completing the first lactation and not appraised must be available for evaluation.

  4. All cows that have been scored only once must be re-appraised.

  5. If, for any reason, an eligible cow will not be available for appraisal, a full explanation must be given in writing to the Executive Secretary. In any case involving the questionable assignment of any cow(s) into or out of the herd temporarily for the purpose of selective appraisal, the entire herd appraisal of the applicant will be subject to cancellation and referred to the Board of Directors.

  6. The appraiser may omit any cow that, in his/her opinion, should not be evaluated because of age, physical condition, or length of lactation.

6.  Cows Evaluated At Applicant’s Discretion

  1. Any cow that has been appraised on two or more previous appraisals may be re-appraised at the owner’s option and for an additional fee.

  2. Unregistered cows may be appraised if they are permanently identified by a method approved by the Association’s Board of Directors and for an additional fee.

7.   Identification Verification

  1. The applicant is required to have available the registration certificate of all cows eligible for appraisal in the herd.

  2. A random check of permanent identification shall be made with the full cooperation of the applicant. The appraiser shall verify the cow’s permanent ID with the information printed on the registration certificate or other document supplied by the Association.

8.   Facilities

  1. The applicant is required to have the herd confined in a small enclosure on a clean, hard surface or in the barn.

  2. All bulls must be removed from the appraisal area. Non-compliance will terminate the herd appraisal.

9.   Rules for Uniform Evaluation

  1. All induced lactations are not considered normal lactations for type appraisal.

  2. A cow with a defective or blind quarter, other defects, or blemishes that the appraiser believes to be due to injury or disease shall not be penalized.

  3. Any cow with any congenital malformation, which interferes with her function, such as undershot jaw, parrot mouth, etc., shall be lowered 10 or more points in Final Score. Any cow with any congenital malformation that detracts from her appearance but does not affect her function is to be scored without automatically reducing the cow 10 points in Final Score, but the defect will be considered in Final Score.

  4. Supplemental traits may be evaluated to more completely describe a cow and/or provide data for research purposes.

10.  Procedure to Assign Final Scores Exceeding 95

  1. When a cow is considered for a Final Score exceeding 95, the appraiser will record trait breakdowns and assign a Final Score of 95 that day.

  2. The appraiser will then contact the Executive Secretary as soon as possible and identify the cow under consideration.

  3. The Executive Secretary will select a second appraiser to break down the cow within 30 days of first appraisal. The second appraisal will be made at no cost to the applicant. The date and time will not be announced; a call from the appraiser several hours before his/her arrival at the farm would be considered common courtesy.

  4. The Executive Secretary and both appraisers will confer to determine the cow’s Final Score and breakdowns within one week after completion of the second appraisal. The owner will be notified of the decision immediately by telephone and a letter from the Executive Secretary.

11.  Application

  1. Application for appraisal shall be made on forms supplied by the Association.

  2. The DHI herd code must be provided on the application and is used to obtain the cow herd inventory from the appropriate DRPC.

  3. The applicant must also list all heifers that will freshen before the anticipated appraisal date.

  4. Applications must be postmarked at least 30 days before the published starting date of schedule. Herds that cancel after schedules are published will be charged for the number of cows scheduled.

  5. Late applications may be scheduled only if deemed feasible, considering time and costs, and with the approval of the Executive Secretary. Additional fees may be required for late applications.

12.  Reappraisal

  1. Reappraisal may be requested at any time and is subject to Special Appraisal rules, fee schedules and availability of appraisers.