Stud Book Registers
The DBS Stud Book and Ancillary Registers
Every equine (donkey, horse, pony, mule etc) registered with the DBS is placed in one (or more) of our 'Registers' or the Stud Book. A brief summary of these registers is given below, however in order to determine the detailed requirements for each, please refer to the Stud Book Rules.
Where an animal is placed depends on its breed (donkey or not), its breeding and whether of not it has passed Stud Book Inspection. In addition, donkeys which are below a certain height may also be entered into our Miniature register.
Our main donkey registers consist of a Stud Book, Improving Registers and a General Register (although there are others – see below). No animal is allowed into the Stud Book without passing a veterinary inspection. It is not eligible for inspection if it is inbred. In addition, the animal must either be the offspring of two Stud Book parents OR must be a 3rd Generation Improving animal. This means that it is the result of an unproven bloodline from the General Register being crossed with known Stud Book lines for three generations (in order to give time for any genetic 'hidden nasties' to show themselves). For more detail on the registers, please see the relevant section below.
Non-donkeys
Any equine which is not a donkey (i.e. is a pony, horse, mule, zeedonk or other cross-breed) is placed in our 'Non-donkeys' register. This is simply a list of registered animals, split by type (horse or pony, mule, other cross bred (or exotic)), and also split by sex of the animal.
Donkeys.
Foreign Register.
Any donkey that is registered abroad, is entered into our 'Foreign Register'. This is a list of animals registered abroad, split by sex of the animal. It can hold any age or sex of animal. We have not checked any of the breeding for any of these animals and anyone wishing to is advised to check with the foreign registering authority to determine what checks / rules have been applied.
General Register.
Any donkey that is not registered elsewhere is registered in the General Register. This list can be split by the sex of the animal. It will contain animals which are not eligible for inclusion elsewhere and also animals which either failed Stud Book inspection or were not presented for inspection by the end of their 8th year. All non-foreign geldings are registered here, regardless of their breeding. Any animal which is the result of a mating where one or both parents were under 4 at the time of covering, is registered here (to discourage breeding from stock that are too young).
Stud Book
The Stud Book consists of three lists, one of mares, one of stallions and one of their offspring (known as 'Progeny') – provided that the Progeny are not inbred. Donkeys which were entered into the Stud Book in previous years will have gained entry under the rules in place at the time, so no assumptions should be made as to the breeding etc of any older entries.
Stud Book stallions.
Any stallion which is currently passed for inclusion in the Stud Book will not be inbred and will have passed an independent veterinary inspection and been found free from hereditary faults (as far as can be determined by the veterinary examination performed). From January 1st 2004, he will be the offspring of a Stud Book stallion and a Stud Book mare OR will be a 3rd Generation Improving stallion. He will be between the ages of 4 and 8 when inspected.
Stud Book Mares.
Any mare which is currently passed for inclusion in the Stud Book will follow the same criteria as for a Stud Book stallion.
Progeny.
All donkeys which are not inbred and are the entire offspring of a Stud Book mare and a Stud Book stallion will be registered here. They must be inspected by the end of their 8th year, and will then either pass to the Stud Book (as a mare or stallion) or to the General Register if they fail or are not put forward. All geldings will be registered in the General Register.
Improving Registers.
The purpose of the Improving Register is to give new bloodlines (form the General Register) the opportunity to make their way through to full Stud Book level, by crossing the new bloodline with one of known lineage, for a period of three generations. The resultant 3rd generation animal (provide it is not inbred) will then be eligible for inspection in to the relevant section of the Stud Book (mare r stallion).
Improving Register 1 (or '1st Generation Improving Register)
This contains donkeys where one parent is a Stud Book mare or stallion and the other is from the General Register. This register contains entire males and females of any age, but no geldings.
Improving Register 2 (or 2nd Generation Improving Register).
This contains donkeys where one parent is Improving Register 1 and the other is Stud Book. It contains entire males and females but no geldings.
Improving Register 3 (or 3rd Generation Improving Register).
This contains donkeys where one parent is a 2nd Generation Improving and the other is Stud Book. Provided that this animal is not inbred, is entire, and was conceived when both parents were at least 4, it will be eligible for inspection for the Stud Book. This register contains entire males and females until the end of their 8th year. They will then be transferred to either the Stud Book or the General Register
Additional Register.
In addition to any of the above registers, a donkey may also be included in the Miniature Register if it is aged 4 years or above and has been certified by a veterinary surgeon as being under 36" high.
