Registration numbering explained.
The DEFRA requirements on passports mean that we can no longer use the various formats of donkey registration numbers that we have used in the past. The main new requirement is for a ‘number for life’ (i.e. one that never changes) so we can no longer give a number at birth and then alter it if the animal is gelded, passes Stud Book inspection or whatever. The format of the new number is also partially proscribed and must commence with numbers identifying the UK and the DBS as the issuing authority.
As a result of this, we have devised a new numbering system which fulfils both the DEFRA requirements and our own needs to hold animals in different registers dependent upon their age, breeding etc. At first sight it looks very different to our previous system, but it is very simple and will enable anyone who wishes to to identify the current status of an animal (e.g. General Register, Stud Book etc.) as well as being able to look the animal up in our published Stud Book to ascertain more details relating to breeding etc.
The new numbering consists of two parts, the Unique Life Number (known as the ULN) and the ‘status’ which gives more details on the animal for our own purposes.
ULN. This is a 15 digit number, commencing 826 (to denote ‘UK’) and then 022 (to identify DBS as the issuing authority). The 7th digit will be set according to the breed of the animal – 1 for donkeys, 2 for mules/ hinnies, 3 for horses / ponies and 9 for any other equine (zedonks, zebras etc.). You will see these ‘Other equines’ sometimes referred to as ‘Other Equines / Exotics. Digits 8-13 are a unique number to identify the actual animal, while digits 14 and 15 will show the volume of the Stud Book in which the animal is entered (and can be thought of as the ‘year identifier’ although this does NOT equate to ‘03’ for 2003 (2003 is volume 28)). A donkey issued with a passport in 2003 will therefore have a number 8260221aaaaaa28 where aaaaaa is a unique number. A horse or pony would have a number 8260223bbbbbb28, where bbbbbb is the unique number. The are no spaces, obliques or any other character in these numbers.
Status. This consists of 6 digits. The first three identify the main register (i.e. part of the Stud Book) in which the animal is registered whilst the final three will additionally show if the animal is held on our Miniature Register. The first will have a different value for each section. All non-donkeys will have a register of ‘Z’ while donkeys will be sub-divided as follows :-
- S – Stud Book
- P – Progeny
- 1 – 1st generation improving register
- 2 – 2nd generation improving register
- 3 – 3rd generation improving register
- F – Foreign register
- G – General register
- (plus Z for non-donkeys)
Digits 2 and 3 will show the volume in which the animal was admitted to this register i.e. 28 for 2003.
If the animal is not held on our Miniature Register, digits 4,5 and 6 will be zeros. For animals which are held on our Miniature Register, digit 4 will be M and digits 5 and 6 will show the volume number when it was admitted e.g. 28 for 2003.
By reference to the status of an animal, it can be easily seen if it is General register, Stud Book, Progeny, Miniature or whatever. The sex of the animal will tell you if it is a gelding, entire male or female (obviously!) and the volume number tells you which volume of the Stud Book to go to in order to find out further details. Please note that there will no longer be a specific Gelding Register, all geldings will be held as ‘sex – gelding’ within the General Register.
Whenever an animal changes its status (e.g. if a Stud Book stallion is gelded and therefore transfers to the General Register), its previous status will be shown as well as the ‘current status’ being updated with the new value. This will enable anyone who wishes to to ‘track’ the movements of an animal between registers.
For example – a Stud Book stallion, registered as such in 2003 will have numbers as follows:-
ULN - 8260221aaaaaa28 - Current status - S28000
If he is then gelded in 2004 (volume 29) his numbers will change to :-
ULN – 8260221aaaaaa28 (unaltered) Current status - G29000 prev. status - G28000.
It’s really very simple – just don’t try and think in the old way, look at the explanation above and it is easy! All you have to do is remember that the 1st digit of the current status tells you all / most of what you need to know – and you can use this info to look for more details in the Stud Book if you wish to.
Overstamped passports.
The DBS have decided to 'overstamp' passports issued by other Passport Issuing Organisations, in order to register the animal with us for showing or other purposes. In this case, the animal's ULN, as determined by the original Passport Issuing Authority will NOT change. It could be 826 followed by something other than 022, and then 9 digits – if it was originally registered in England, or could be any other 15 digits, if registered in another country.
Whilst not altering the ULN for the animal, we will overstamp the relevant page of the passport, and will give the animal a 'Status' indicating that it has been over-stamped by us – and which year. The status will be 'X' (for Overstamped) followed by the relevant volume number for the year in which we overstamped the original passport (e.g. 28 for 2003).
