How to register calves

The Shorthorn Breed stems from the oldest cattle Herdbook in the world.

Registering Shorthorn calves is an easy process and provides access to the Shorthorn Herdbook as well as pedigree details and more.

To register Shorthorn calves with us, you will need to be a member of Shorthorn Beef. You will also need to be enrolled in Shorthorn Group BREEDPLAN if you wish to have performance data included in the Shorthorn Group BREEDPLAN analysis.


Step 1. Herd Inventory

Complete your herd inventory and update as required. The herd inventory provides a record of the females enrolled as breeders in your herd ident and also a record of the registration status. Herd inventories are sent to breeders each year and updated when breeders return the completed forms.

A levy is paid by Shorthorn members on active females in their inventory. Paying the levy entitles members to register a calf for each female within the register she is recorded in.


Step 2. Registration Process

Paper forms

Shorthorn Beef sends Calf Registration Forms to breeders at the start of each calendar year. The list of active females on your inventory is pre-printed on the forms. You should record each females calf beside her on the Calf Record Form. You also need to record the birth date, sex, colour, individual ID and sire. Herds enrolled in Shorthorn Group BREEDPLAN should also record the birth weight and calving ease for each calf.

Please check the joining details carefully when recording the calf. In the case of AI joinings it is best to check that the Gestation Length matches the joining dates and birth dates. If you are unsure of the sire, don’t try to guess. Simply submit DNA from the calf, along with a list of possible sires to Shorthorn Beef for a paternity test. If the sire can not be established the calf may still be able to be registered with the Shorthorn Beef Appendix Register.

Paper registrations of Shorthorn calves attract a fee of $2.75 per calf.

Once forms are filled in, check them thoroughly. Each form must be signed and submitted to the Shorthorn Beef Office. Remember when you sign the form you are stating that to the best of your knowledge, the information is correct. The information that you supply is the details that will appear on the pedigree form of each calf.


Herd Recording Software

There are several Herd Data Management programs available such as StockBook, Herdmaster, Herdlink and Koolperform. The main advantage to supplying registration details through these programs is the ease of submitting data (by email or Flash Drive), and the reduced handling of data which means less mistakes.

Most herd recording software programs are compatible with the Shorthorn Beef software and make the registration process extremely efficient.

For those who do not have, or do not wish to invest, in Herd Management Software, there is also an Excel format that can be used for registering calves. Please click here for the link.


Online Registrations

Shorthorn Beef encourages electronic registrations wherever possible. This is because they save a lot of work at both ends and also because they make it easier to avoid mistakes. The process is simple and straightforward to use, however if you have any concerns, please contact the Shorthorn Beef Office for assistance.

Step by Step Guide to Online Registrations

One of the best features of the Shorthorn Beef Online Registration system is that it allows you to register calves at anytime, night or day, and also as frequently as you wish, rather than having to enter calves in one big group. The other big benefit is that the system will alert you to any potential mistakes as you enter the details, allowing you to double check details straight away.

Online Registrations Login


What if you make a mistake?

Well, you won’t be on your own, mistakes happen to all of us. If you become aware of a possible mistake in your registrations, simply contact the Shorthorn Beef Office and let them know. Where possible, they will correct the issue for you, so don’t worry if something looks like it has gone wrong.

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About Shorthorn

The Shorthorn breed is truly unique, from their distinctive roan colour, to their rich breed history and most importantly, the wonderful community of breeders, there is nothing else quite like a Shorthorn.

The key to the Shorthorn breeds advantage lies in their balanced genetic profile, driven by market participation that has been developed and refined, after more than 200 years of genetic selection under Australian conditions.

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