How to decipher pedigree and milk test abbreviations
Let’s start with the beginning of the goats name.
If Registered with ADGA (American Dairy Goat Association)or AGS (American Dairy Goat Society)
ADGA : CH (Champion)
AGS: MCH (Master Champion)
To earn this title the goat must win Grand Champion 3 times under 2 different judges at sanctioned classes. They must also be mature for at least two of those wins( does must have two wins while in milk). Each GCH win is considered a “leg”.
When a goat earns both their finished championship AND a AND a milk star earned from Advanced Registry or Star Volume the title is as follows:
ADGA: GCH (Grand Champion)
AGS: ARMCH
If the name starts with a SG ( Superior Genetics) that means they were in the top 15% of either 2:1 or 1:2 PTI for that breed.
PTI ( Production Type Index-)genetic indexes that combine production and type genetic evaluations into one score . First number emphasizes production over type and second emphasizes type .
In order to receive numbers they must be either shown or evaluated by an ADGA appraiser in the LA ( Linear Appraisal ) program.
They also must have been on a supervised DHIR ( Dairy Herd Improvement Registry)
Next : if a *(Star) follows the name it indicates a milk award. A doe whose dam had also earned her star will have a ‘2’ preceding her star. This indicates her dam also earned a star. If the daughter of a 2 star milker also earns her star , she would be a 3 star milker or third generation and so on.
A doe can also earn a star if she has 3 daughters by different bucks that earn stars.
If the star is followed by an AR it was earned in a DHIR program. Otherwise it was from a one day test or daughters.
ADGA: *M (milkers)
AGS: *D (does)
Bucks are given inherited stars( based on production of parents and grandparents)
ADGA: *B (bucks)
AGS: *S (sires)
Bucks also earn awards based on daughters and sons.
This is what is called a plus buck.
A buck can earn 2 pluses by daughters and sons with star daughters.
ADGA ++B
AGS: ++S
An Elite title in the goats record data base indicates the PTA$ (Predicted Transmitting Ability dollars)
This economic index combines the relative values of milk and components.
The animal must be in the top 15% of its breed for milk/fat/protein/dollars (production).
The Linear Appraisal scoring is broken down into 4 major categories.
The categories are given a letter score while the final score is given a numerical value.
E (Excellent) at least 90% of ideal
V( Very Good) 85-89% of ideal
+(Good Plus) 80-84% of ideal
A (Acceptable) 70-79% of ideal
F (Fair) 60-69% of ideal
P (Poor) less than 60% of ideal
Does are:
General appearance 35% of final score
Dairy Character 20% of final score
Body capacity 10% of final score
Mammary system 35% of final score
Bucks are :
General appearance 55%
Dairy Character 30%
Body capacity 15%
So the score would look like this on the most ideal doe EEEE99 (the higher the number the better).
The categories are given a letter score while the final score is given a numerical value.
E (Excellent) at least 90% of ideal
V( Very Good) 85-89% of ideal
+(Good Plus) 80-84% of ideal
A (Acceptable) 70-79% of ideal
F (Fair) 60-69% of ideal
P (Poor) less than 60% of ideal
Does are:
General appearance 35% of final score
Dairy Character 20% of final score
Body capacity 10% of final score
Mammary system 35% of final score
Bucks are :
General appearance 55%
Dairy Character 30%
Body capacity 15%
So the score would look like this on the most ideal doe EEEE99 (the higher the number the better).