IDGR registers goats in three categories: Recorded Grade, American and Purebred. Offspring of IDGR-registered animals are automatically eligible for registry or recordation in the appropriate category. IDGR also has an Experimental herd book for crossbred goats. In order to maintain accurate records and to ensure the purity of the herdbooks, the following steps must be taken to record new animals into the registry.
PUREBRED: Offspring of IDGR-registered purebred animals are automatically eligible for registry in the purebred herdbook. If the goat is registered with another registry contact IDGR for info on recognition and then submit a photocopy along with your application. When one or both parents of the animal are registered with another registry photocopies of the parent's certificates are required.
AMERICAN: A goat out of two registered American goats or one Purebred and one American parent 96.7% or less will be registered in the American herdbook. A goat out of one American or purebred parent and one 75% or more Grade parent will be eligible for registry in the American herdbook. Please send one clear photo. If one of the goat’s parents and all of its grandparents are registered to send an application and photocopies of all available ancestors’ registry certificates, along with a photograph of the animal to be registered. If the appearance conforms to the standard for the breed, the animal will be registered as an American; if not, it will be recorded as a grade.
GRADE: Bucks and does may be admitted to the Grade herdbook. If little or no information is available on a goat’s ancestry, or if the ancestors were not registered, the goat can be recorded as a Grade. Submit an application indicating which breed the animal resembles and a photograph along with all available background information on the animal, including transfers of ownership, if known. If the animal conforms to breed standards for its age and gender but has no registered ancestors, it will be entered in the Grade herdbook as Recorded By Appearance (RBA). The offspring of an RBA animal and a purebred animal will be recorded as 50% (1/2) Grade. The offspring of a 50% (1/2) Grade and a purebred will be recorded as 75% (3/4) Grade, and the next generation 87.5%(7/8) may, if they continue to conform to the breed standard, be entered into the American herdbook. Therefore, through the use of purebred bucks, an RBA animal’s descendants may eventually enter the American herd book if they have proven themselves to be of appropriate type through several generations of progeny. An American doe bred to a purebred buck will produce 93.75%(15/16) American offspring. By continuing the process of breeding American does to purebred bucks, the next generation will be 96.87%(31/32) American, and the next generation 98.43% (63/64) wi1l become eligible for entry into the purebred herdbook. Pictures are required for all Grade registrations.
EXPERIMENTAL: An animal whose sire and dam are Purebreds, Americans or Recorded Grades of different breeds may be registered as an Experimental. To register an Experimental, fill out a registration form as you would for any of the above categories and submit a photograph of the animal. Experimental Goats that are crossed between meat and dairy or miniature goats will carry an extra letter on the end of their registry number. They will not upgrade to American status until they have been able to prove that they meet the standard for that breed – This takes on average an extra 2 -3 generations.
Photographs: Photographs are required on all goats being registered in the Grade category. Also on the first generation entering the American (87.5%) category and the first generation entering the Purebred category (98.43%). Photographs are also required for any rare or developing breed and may be required for goats coming from other registries. Either black-and-white or color prints or clear computer print-outs will be accepted; color is preferred. The animal should be standing on level ground with its head up, and against a plain background if possible. Also taken as close up as possible.
Identification: Some type of ID is required on all goats being registered. The prefered method of identification is tattooing. All animals must be tattooed in both ears. For your protection, your herd name and tattoo prefix should be registered with IDGR to insure your exclusive use. It is recommended that the prefix of the breeder be tattooed in the right ear, and a code that indicates year and sequence both in the left ear. “Y” is the recognized letter for 2008 births; “Z” for 2009, “A” for 2010, etc. The letters G,I,O,Q and U are never used. Example: the 4th kid born in 2008 bred by Magic Wind Farm could be tattooed MWF in the right ear and Y4 in the left ear. Other types of identification that are acceptable in include microchips and certain approved ear tags.
Herd Prefix: All animals must be registered with the breeder’s prefix as the first part of their name, the only exception being RBA animals whose breeder is unknown. The “breeder” is defined as the owner of the dam of the animal at the time she was bred. The IDGR believes that the primary function of a registry is to record and preserve information on animals and their progeny. This is why we allow the recording of grade bucks, as opposed to the practices of other registries. However, the IDGR’s motto is ‘For Better Breeding’ and the system of upgrading follows that philosophy by encouraging goat breeders to use the best bucks available to improve their animals’ offspring. Remember we at IDGR can only do so much to keep our herdbooks pure and correct. We are counting on you the breeders to be honest and keep accurate breeding and kidding records.
