Cruachan Highland Cattle

What do these various classifications and terms mean?

The Australian Highland Cattle Society allows for registration of animals graded up from another breed. Each generation must be sired by a registered Highland bull.

Females may be registered from 1st cross and are considered "pure" at 4th cross. Bulls require to be at least 5th cross to be eligible for registration (in certain circumstances 4th cross bulls can also be registered).

There are also animals which are from fully imported bloodlines and some that are a mixture of both.

There are several terms that are used …
 

Fullblood

This term is reserved for stock that are from fully imported bloodlines and their pedigree may go right back to the start of one the Highland Breed Societies in Scotland or Canada or America. These animals form the basis of Australia's future Highland Cattle. Without new bloodlines the breed will not prosper.

 

Pure or
Purebred

Normally refers to graded cattle that are fourth cross and above. Graded cattle can have origins from any breed (beef or dairy).

 

Old Cattle

Progeny of cattle that were imported to Australia during the 1950's.

 

Graded

Graded from another breed. A registered bull must be used to produce the animals to be eligible for registration.

The grades are as follows—
 

C

 

First cross or 50% or 1/2

 

B

 

Second Cross or 75% or 3/4 (produced from a grade C cow)

 

A

 

Third Cross or 87% or 7/8 (produced from a grade B cow)

 

Pure

 

Fourth Cross or 93% or 15/16 (produced from a grade A cow)

 

It is my personal opinion that many people do not fully understand the above terms and may quite innocently portray their stock to be a different type to what they really are.

If you are unsure then you can contact the Australian Highland Society for advice.

They can be contacted by telephone on (03) 9281 7444. Ask to be put through to the Australian Highland Cattle Society.

To contact us ... e-mail  Cruachan Highland Cattle

email logo

All pages and photos contained in this web site are...
Copyright of Cruachan Highland Cattle or the stated information source.

Cruachan Highland Cattle,
PO Box 228, Maffra, Victoria 3860, Australia

[Main Attributes]

[General History]

[Return to Main Index]

[Breed Standard]

[Australian History]

[Grade or Fullblood]

[Size, does it matter?]