The list is complete for Northern Ireland at present and will be revised by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) as necessary. However, if you require to record a breed not on the list, contact your local DAERA Direct Office (DDO) for advice. In the case of crossbreeds record only the dominant breed.

Breed codes

Breed code Breed code Breed code Breed code
Aberdeen Angus - AA Angler Rotvieh - AR Ankole - ANK Armoricaine - ARM
Aubrac - AU Australian Lowline - ALL AyrShire - AYR Baltata & Baltata Romanesca - BAR
Baltata Bruna - BBR Baltata Negra - BAN Bazadais - BAZ Beefalo - BEE
Beefmaster - BMS Belgian Blue - BB Belted Galloway - BGA Bison - BI
Blonde D'Aquataine - DAQ Blue Albion - BAL Blue Grey - BLG Brahman - BRH
Braunbieh - BRA Bretoone Pie Noire - BPN British Blue - BRB British White - BW
Bruna De Maramures - BDM Canadian Black - CAN Charolais - CH Chianina - CHI
Chillingham - CHL Danish Red - DR Devon - DEV Dexter - DEX
DroiMeann - DN East Finish Brown - EFB English Park - ENP European Angus - EA
Fleckvieh - FKV Frisona Espagnola - FRE Friesian - FR Galloway - GAL
Gayal - GAY Gasconne - GAS Gelbvieh - GE Gloucester - GLO
Groninger Blaarkop - GRB      
Guernsey - GU Hereford - HER Highland - HI  Holstein - HOL
Irish Moile - IM Jersey - JER Kerry - KE Lakenvelder - LAK
Longhorn - LH Limousin - LIM Lincoln Red - LNR  Lithuanian Black and White - LBW
Luing - LUI  Malkekorthorn - MAL  Maine Anjou - MAJ  Marchigiana - MAR
Meuse Rhine Yssel - MRI Miniature Zebru - MZB Montbeliarde - MB Murray Grey - MG
Normande - NOR Norwegian Red - NR  Old English - OLE Parthenais - PAR
Piemontese - PIE Pinzgauer - PIN Pustertaler - PUS Red Poll - RPL
Reggiana - REG Romagnola - ROM Rotbunt - ROT Salers - SAL
Shetland - STL Shorthorn - SH Shorthorn Beef - SHB Shorthorn Dairy - SHD
Simmental - SIM South Devon - SD Speckle Park - SPK Stabiliser - ST
Sussex - SU Swedish Red - SWR Swiss Brown - SBR Swiss Grey - SWG
Tarantaise Tarina - TAT Tyrone Black - TYB Unknown - UNK Valsostana Nera - VAN
Vaynol - VA Vosgienne-Vosges - VOS Wagyu - WAG Water Buffalo - BU
Welsh Black - WB Welsh White - WEW White Galloway - WG White Park - WP
Yak - YAK Zebu - ZEB    

Colour codes

All colour types are covered. Do not use any variations. Colour dominance is not important. For example. white and black is BW. Please note that brown is not a colour to be used. Depending on the intensity of the colour, Red (R) or Dun (D) should be used.

Colour code Colour code Colour code Colour code
Black - B Blue - BL Brindle - BR Dun - D (includes yellow, fawn, cream, light brown etc)
Red - R Roan - RN Black & White - BW Blue & White - BLW
Dun & White - DW Red & White - RW White - W  

Class/sex codes

All bulls over 6 months of age should be recorded as bulls (B). All other males (in other words steers and bull calves) should be recorded as males (M) unless the bull calf is intended for breeding purposes or bull beef production in which case bull (B) should be used. 

Class/sex code Class/sex code Class/sex code
Bull - B Female - F Male - M

Date of birth details

  • the exact date of birth must be entered for animals born in the herd
  • for animals bought into the herd, the date of birth should be taken from the accompanying movement document
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