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: If the goat is registered with the American Dairy Goat Association (ADGA), or the American Goat Society (AGS), the British Goat Society (BGS), National Pygmy Goat Association (NPGA) or the Canadian Goat Society (CGS) submit an IDGR application and a photocopy of the animal's ADGA, AGS, BGS, NPGA, or CGS registry certificate. If the animal is not already registered, but both the animal's sire and dam are registered, submit an application and photocopies of both of their registry certificates. The IDGR may require photographs on some breeds or animals coming from some registries.

AMERICAN: If one of the goat's parents and all of its grandparents are registered with IDGR, ADGA, AGS, BGS, NPGA, or CGS 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) will become eligible for entry into the purebred herdbook.

Photographs are required on all goats being registered in the Grade or Experimental categories. Also on the first generation entering the American (87.5%) category and the first generation entering the Purebred category (98.43%). Photos are also required on all rare and developing breeds such as the San Clemente and the Mini Dairy breeds. 

EXPERIMENTAL: An animal whose sire and dam are Purebreds, Americans or Recorded Grades of different breeds may be registered as an Experimental. Example: the offspring of a purebred Sable buck and an American Pygmy doe would be registered as an Experimental. To register an Experimental, follow the appropriate procedures for Purebreds, Americans or Grades and submit a photograph of the animal. The sire and dam of an Experimental must be registered or recorded.

The IDGR has a system of progeny testing, so that animals that are believed to be purebred, but that have lost papers, or no papers (such as animals from zoos) may be entered directly into the American herdbook (or Purebred in cases of some rare breeds). Please contact us for details.

Photographs: 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. Due to their highly perishable nature, Poloroid or Instamatic pictures cannot be accepted.

Tattooing: All animals registered or recorded with IDGR 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. "T" is the recognized letter for 2004 births; "V" for 2005, "W" for 2006, "X" for 2007 etc.The letters G,I,O,Q and U are never used. Example: the 4th kid born in 2006 bred by Magic Wind Farm could be tattooed MWF in the right ear and W4 in the left ear.

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.

August, 2006