All stock submitted for registration in the Herd Book is given a grade which classifies the level of Highland bloodlines in the animal’s pedigree. The grades that follow are the only ones used in the Register to grade cattle.
All animals whose sires and dams are registered as Fullblood in the "NZHCHB" or are registered as Fullblood in the Herd Book of the "Highland Cattle Society" UK, Canada, Australia or America or in some other Herd Book approved by Council, and whose ancestry shows no introduction of any other breed of cattle.
This classification was introduced to be able to give a distinction between animals that have come through a breeding up regime, and animals that have come from a totally Highland ancestry. All offshore societies except Australia do not recognise bred up stock, and this category allowed members who had fullblood stock to be able to export genetics to these countries in the future.
All animals whose dams are registered as Fullblood or Purebred and whose sires are registered as Fullblood or P2 or higher in the Herdbook or are registered as Fullblood or Purebred in the Herd Book of the "Highland Cattle Society" UK, Canada, Australia or America or in some other Herd Book approved by Council, and whose ancestry shows some introduction of another breed of cattle.
or
For Pure Bred Cows only (no Bulls born since 1/3/97) whose sires are registered as Fullblood or P2 or higher in the Herdbook or are registered as Fullblood or Purebred in the Herd Book of the "Highland Cattle Society" UK, Canada, Australia or America or in some other Herd Book approved by Council, and whose dams are registered in Class A in the Herdbook
The animals with a purebred status will also have a number after the P, denoting how many generations the animal has been purebred. The number system is:
P1 First generation purebred P2 Second generation purebred P3 Third generation purebred P4 Fourth generation purebred Px Over four generations purebred
No bulls with a grade of P1 or less can be registered in the NZHCS Herdbook.
There will be a few instances where bulls with a P1 classification who were registered prior to the rule change in 1997 are listed in pedigrees.
Cows whose sires are registered as P2 or higher, or Fullblood, and whose dams are registered in Class B in the Herdbook;
Or
Those cows whose ancestry is obviously Highland and on inspection by, and at the discretion of, the Society Inspector is granted A status. Breeding records must be produced and any inspection costs to be borne by the member.
Cows whose sires are registered as P2 or higher, or Fullblood, and whose dams are registered in Class C in the Herdbook and who may be subjected to inspection.
or
Those cows whose ancestry is obviously Highland and on inspection by, and at the discretion of, the Society Inspector is granted B status. Breeding records must be produced and any inspection costs to be borne by the member.
Cows whose sires are registered as P2 or higher, or Fullblood, and whose dams are less than 1/2 pure or any other breed of cattle. (Main breed to be specified).
After 1st June 2002 only progeny from animals already registered as C or above in the Herdbook will be accepted for registration.
