Please note the Star Brood calculation was updated in January 2024, according to the criteria below.

The Star Brood award recognises a cow based on the performance of her progeny. The award is calculated automatically for all Holstein UK members free of charge. Cows which achieve Star Brood status will have the number of stars added to their individual pedigree record as well as on registration certificates, online factsheets and herd lists.

Star Brood Award certificates for individual animals are available on request by contacting the Membership Services team.

If a member wishes to query the number of stars awarded to a cow, then they should contact the Membership Services team. An investigation fee will be charged for each query.

View your individual Star Brood herd list

Criteria

Points are allocated to each cow based on her progeny, with eight points equaling one Star.

To be eligible for the award, cows must have a minimum of:

• Three progeny (male or female) classified Good Plus (GP) or higher.

  AND

• Three progeny with a combined fat and protein of 700kgs on any lactation.

Points are earned by progeny as follows:

Classification

Female Classification	Points	Male Classification	Points
GP	1	GP	1
VG	3	VG	2
EX	6	EX	3
Multiple EX	1 point per EX	Multiple EX	1 point per EX

Female Production

Points are earned by progeny which receive the Lifetime Production (LP) Award

LP Award	Points	LP Award	Points
LP50	1	LP160	12
LP60	2	LP170	13
LP70	3	LP180	14
LP80	4	LP190	15
LP90	5	LP200	16
LP100	6	LP210	17
LP110	7	LP220	18
LP120	8	LP230	19
LP130	9	LP240	20
LP140	10	LP250	21
LP150	11

In addition, each progeny with a Superior Performer (SP) award will contribute 3 points.

Heifer Lactation	Points	2nd and above Lactations	Points
700 kgs F&P	1	800 kgs F&P	1
800 kgs F&P	2	900 kgs F&P	2
900 kgs F&P	3	1000 kgs F&P	3
1000 kgs F&P	4	1100 kgs F&P	4
1100 kgs F&P	5	1200 kgs F&P	5

Male Progeny

Genetic Type Index
For males with a minimum of 65% type merit (TM) reliability

TM 65-84%	Points	TM 85% and above	Points
1.5	3	1.5	6
1.75	4	1.75	8
2.0	5	2.0	10
2.5	6	2.5	12

Male Production PTA
Points are awarded for males with positive PTA values for combined fat and protein kg (CFP)

Reliability %	Points
50-69	3
70-80	4
81 and over	5

For bulls over 70% reliability, an additional point is awarded per 10kg CFP e.g., a bull with a PTA of +40kg CFP would receive 8 points.

NB. Points contributed by male progeny cannot go down, even if their genetic indexes do so over time.

Star Brood Progeny

If any progeny of a qualifying female earns Star Brood status, they will contribute points to their dam’s Star Brood calculation. The first Star achieved by progeny contributes two points to the dam and any subsequent stars contribute one point each.

The table below shows Star Brood Cows with 50 stars or more, as of  12 December 2023, ranked by the number of stars awarded.

DENMIRE STORM MARIE 12	DENMIRE	03/02/1998	73
ACECROFT GOLDWYN LILA Z	WILLSBRO	05/11/2006	73
WOODMARSH ZOEY	WOODMARSH	03/06/2005	70
DENMIRE GOLDWYN MARIE 102	DENMIRE	24/09/2008	69
ALH POLLY	ABSOLUTE	03/06/2006	68
AVENHAM OUTSIDE J ROLLS	AVENHAM	07/12/1999	68
CONDON AERO SHARON	TALLENT	20/01/1991	66
DENMIRE GIBSON MARIE 22	ABSOLUTE	06/09/2002	62
BOND HAVEN DIXIE ROX	JOYLAN	02/09/1988	61
TOPMARK RAIDER RHAPSODY	ALMOND	25/06/1994	59
WINTERSELL MILA 10	WINTERSELL	18/11/2005	57
PRIMSLAND INSPIRATION KIMO	PAINLEY	09/08/1989	57
SMIDDIEHILL DURM ASHLYN	RIVERDANE	01/12/2005	55
COPYWOOD INTEGRITY SARA RED	RIVERDANE	01/04/1999	54
COMESTAR ORALIE PRELUDE	WEETON	02/03/1994	54

Last updated 12-Dec-23