The bulls are coded the way they are made and the females given the numbers they need (to improve). The numbers corresponding to the bulls transmitting strengths are then matched to the cows weaknesses to make a "perfect combination" e.g. a 165 bull is mated onto a 165 cow.

The number codes have one word descriptions but each code has a number of traits that correlate highly with that number.

The number definitions are as follows:

1. Dairy - ample will to milk, refined head, tailhead and hocks, long neck, sharp hooks and pin bones.

2. Tall - long head, long legs, long back strong pasterns, high udder.

3. Open - open angular ribs, wide thurls and pins, open hocks, ample room for the udder, calving ease number.

4. Strong - large head, wide chest, large capacity, plenty of room for the lungs, strong healthy legs.

5. Smooth - big cow on short legs (Blackrose type) good width and capacity, easy managed cows.

6. Style - The fancy kind, all parts blending nicely together, strong loins level rumps generally have short rounded feet.

For example, number 3 Open indicates that the ribs are well spaced, the pins are wide apart, hocks are open and there will be ample room for the udder. This type normally have a flat rump and deep feet.

Heritability also plays its part e.g. bulls with Aerostar in their immediate background will usually figure in their offspring. With Juror being 315 and Aerostar 651, the parents of Roylane Jordan, make Roy 165. Roy brings to his mating 1 Dairy, 6 Style and 5 Smooth.

Picston Shottle with two crosses of Starbuck, starts with 2 tall, making his score 243. Other good examples are Ridge-Star Justy, Whittier-Farms Kenrik, Glen-Toctin Pippen and MOET Melody all scoring 531. These cows are not the tallest but still have good capacity openness and dairyness.

Gea-Aaron Sheva 561 and MOET Lookout 516 are similar, not tall but stylish and dairy. Ammon Farm Dyson and MOET Pavane 435 will get those wide chested powerful sorts.

Basically the numbers:

1 Dairy is the opposite of 4 Strong

2 Tall is the opposite of 5 Smooth

3 Open is the opposite of 6 Stylish

This is very much a simple interpretation of a much more in depth programme.

Below is the aAa scores for some of our stud...