About the Holstein UK Society

Key facts about Holstein UK


Key facts about Holstein UK
  • Registers all pedigree Holstein and British Friesian cattle in the UK
  • Formed in 1999 from the merger of the Holstein Friesian Society (founded in 1909 as the British Holstein Cattle Society) and the British Holstein Society (founded in 1946)
  • Largest independent breed society in Europe
  • Represents its members' interests at national and European government levels


  • Holstein UK has representation on key committees and organisations:
  • International Committee for Animal Recording (ICAR)
  • World Holstein Friesian Federation (WHFF)
  • WHFF classifiers' group
  • WHFF committee for electronic standards
  • European Holstein Friesian Confederation (Board of Management, Herdbook and Type Evaluation Committee)
  • Centre for Dairy Information (CDI)
  • MDC Evaluations (ADC)
  • National Cattle Association (NCA)
  • British Cattle Breeders Club
  • Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF)
  • DEFRA Health & Welfare
  • Electronic identification working group
  • British Livestock Genetics Consortium (BLG)


  • Holstein UK has close working relationships with:
  • MDC Evaluations (ADC) (exchange of index, ancestry and type records)
  • Cattle Information Service (CIS) (exchange of registration data and milk records)
  • Ayrshire Cattle Society of Great Britain and Ireland (registration and type appraisal by Holstein UK)
  • British Blue Cattle Society (registrations by Holstein UK )
  • Brown Swiss Cattle Society (UK) (registration and type appraisal by Holstein UK)
  • English Guernsey Cattle Society (housed at Holstein UK headquarters, registration and type appraisal by Holstein UK)
  • Jersey Cattle Society of the UK (housed at Holstein UK headquarters, registration and type appraisal by Holstein UK)
  • National Milk Records (exchange of registration data and milk records through Calflink)
  • Royal Jersey Agricultural Society (registration and type appraisal by Holstein UK)
  • Royal Guernsey Agricultural & Horticultural Society (Type appraisal by Holstein UK)
  • United Dairy Farmers - Northern Ireland (exchange of registration data and milk records)
  • European Angus Cattle Registration Co. (Registrations by Holstein UK)
  • British Montbeliarde Society (Registrations by Holstein UK)
  • Shorthorn Society of UK & Ireland (Type appraisal by Holstein UK)
  • AI companies, especially Cogent and Genus (Linear Inspection For Type (LIFT) assessment on daughters of potential proven sires and their contemporaries)