Organising Breeding Programs
Studbook management in Kora provides the foundation for genetic tracking. Create breeding programs (studbooks). Register animals with unique identifiers. Organise breeding populations. Coordinate multi-institutional efforts. A studbook is simply an organised record of animals participating in a breeding program. This serves conservation, breed improvement, or population management purposes.
This chapter explains how studbook creation and animal registration work. What information is captured. How breeding programs are organised.
What is a Studbook?
A studbook is an organised breeding program tracking specific animals for genetic, conservation, or breed management purposes. Think of it as a specialised registry. This focuses on breeding and genetics rather than general animal management.
Common studbook types:
- Conservation breeding programs - Endangered species population management
- Breed registries - Purebred lineage documentation (cattle breeds, dog breeds, etc.)
- Institutional breeding programs - Zoo breeding programs, research colony management
- Regional breeding cooperatives - Multi-farm breeding coordination
- Genetic conservation initiatives - Preserving rare genetic lines
Example studbooks:
Conservation Studbook:
Name: "Black Rhino European Ex Situ Programme"
Animal Type: Rhinoceros (Black Rhino)
Purpose: Coordinated breeding across European zoos preventing extinction
Registered Animals: 187 individuals across 42 institutions
Coordinator: Dr Sarah Johnson (European Zoo Association)
Conservation Status: Critically Endangered
Breed Registry Studbook:
Name: "Registered Hereford Cattle - Region 5"
Animal Type: Cattle (Hereford)
Purpose: Purebred registration and breed improvement
Registered Animals: 1,234 individuals across 56 member farms
Coordinator: Breed Association Registrar
Focus: Maintaining breed standards, documenting lineages
Research Colony Studbook:
Name: "Laboratory Mouse Strain C57BL/6"
Animal Type: Mouse (Laboratory)
Purpose: Research colony genetic management
Registered Animals: 450 individuals across 3 breeding rooms
Coordinator: Facility Breeding Manager
Focus: Genetic consistency, avoiding inbreeding in research animals
A studbook provides organised framework. Connects animals to breeding program. Enables systematic genetic management.
Creating a Studbook
Creating a studbook establishes the breeding program framework:
Basic Information (required):
- Name: Descriptive program name ("African Elephant EEP", "Angus Cattle Registry", "Parrot Conservation Program")
- Animal Type: Species being managed (ensures consistency)
Optional Details:
- Description: Program purpose, goals, scope
- External Identifier: Link to international registry or studbook system
- Conservation Status: If managing endangered species (Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable, etc.)
- Population Management Notes: Context about program strategy, challenges, priorities
- Coordinator: Person responsible for breeding recommendations and program oversight
Example studbook creation:
Creating Conservation Studbook:
Name: "Sumatran Orangutan European Breeding Programme"
Animal Type: Primate (Orangutan)
Description: "Coordinated ex situ breeding program for Sumatran orangutan
(Pongo abelii) across European institutions. Part of EAZA
conservation breeding initiative supporting in-situ conservation."
External Identifier: "EAZA-ORAN-SUM-001"
Conservation Status: Critically Endangered
Population Management Notes: "Focus on genetic diversity maintenance. Priority
breeding for underrepresented founders. Annual
breeding recommendations coordinated with
international studbook keeper."
Coordinator: Dr Emily Roberts (Rotterdam Zoo)
Created: 2024-01-15
Initial Status: Active, no animals registered yet (registration phase beginning)
Studbook creation takes 2-3 minutes. Establishes organisational framework before animal registration begins.
Registering Animals in Studbooks
Once studbook created, animals are registered creating studbook entries:
Studbook Entry = Individual Animal + Breeding Program Participation
Registration Information:
- Animal: Which individual animal being registered (from core animal management)
- Studbook Identifier: Unique ID within this breeding program (different from farm ID, ear tag, etc.)
- Entry Date: When animal joined breeding program
- Notes: Registration context, origin information, special considerations
- Origin Source: If animal transferred from another institution or breeding program
- Origin Identifier: Animal's identifier in previous system
Example animal registration:
Registering Orangutan in Conservation Studbook:
Animal: "Kavi" (core animal record)
Farm ID: ORAN-2020-M-001
Microchip: 985112345678901
Sex: Male
Date of Birth: 2020-06-15
Current Location: Berlin Zoo
Studbook Registration:
Studbook: "Sumatran Orangutan European Breeding Programme"
Studbook Identifier: "SOEP-2024-M-015"
Entry Date: 2024-01-20
Notes: "Transferred from birth institution (Amsterdam Zoo) at age 3.5 years
for genetic diversity. Represents underrepresented founder lineage."
Origin Source: "Amsterdam Zoo Studbook"
Origin Identifier: "AMS-ORAN-020"
Status: Active (participating in breeding program)
Registration links core animal data to breeding program. Maintains specialised breeding program identifier. Preserves all existing animal information.
Studbook Identifiers
Each animal receives unique identifier within breeding program:
Why Separate Identifier?:
- Farm/Zoo ID: Property-specific identification ("Barn 3, Animal 42")
- Ear Tag/RFID: Physical identification device
- Microchip: Permanent electronic ID
- Studbook Identifier: Breeding program-specific ID ("SOEP-2024-M-015")
Studbook identifiers follow program-specific conventions. Independent of physical identifiers. Enable clear breeding program communication across institutions.
Common identifier formats:
Conservation Program Identifiers:
"SOEP-2024-M-015" - Sumatran Orangutan European Programme, 2024, Male, #15
"BRP-2023-F-089" - Black Rhino Programme, 2023, Female, #89
"KCP-2025-M-004" - Kakapo Conservation Programme, 2025, Male, #4
Breed Registry Identifiers:
"HER-2024-512" - Hereford Registry, 2024, Animal #512
"ANG-F-2023-1842" - Angus Registry, Female, 2023, #1842
Research Colony Identifiers:
"C57-G5-M-234" - Strain C57BL/6, Generation 5, Male, #234
"BALB-2024-142" - BALB/c Strain, 2024, #142
Custom Farm Identifiers:
"BSP-001" - Farm breeding program, sequential
"2024-RAM-05" - Year, breeding ram designation, number
Programs establish identifier conventions. Match needs, documentation requirements, and integration with external registries.
Managing Studbook Entries
Studbook entries track animal participation over time:
Active Entries:
- Animal currently participating in breeding program
- Contributing to breeding recommendations and population analysis
- Included in demographic counts and genetic assessments
Inactive Entries:
- Animal no longer participating (death, transfer out, retirement from breeding)
- Data preserved - pedigree relationships remain for lineage documentation
- Historical record maintained for genetic analysis and family tree completeness
Deactivating entries: When animal no longer participates, entry deactivated (not deleted):
Deactivating Studbook Entry:
Animal: "Luna" - Studbook ID: "SOEP-2022-F-008"
Deactivation Date: 2024-11-15
Inactive Reason: "Animal deceased (natural causes, age 18 years)"
Result:
- Entry marked inactive
- Pedigree relationships preserved (Luna remains in family trees as parent)
- Offspring pedigrees maintain link to Luna for lineage documentation
- Historical genetic data retained
- No longer included in breeding population counts
- Still visible for pedigree research and lineage verification
Soft deactivation (vs deletion) preserves genetic history. Critical for breeding programs where multi-generational lineage matters. Even after individuals no longer participate.
Multi-Studbook Participation
Animals can participate in multiple studbooks simultaneously:
Example multi-studbook scenarios:
Scenario 1: Conservation + Regional Programs
Animal: Elephant "Tembo"
Studbook 1: "African Elephant European Ex Situ Programme" (conservation)
Studbook 2: "UK Zoo Breeding Cooperative" (regional coordination)
Both programs track same animal for different purposes. International conservation
coordination at species level. Regional breeding planning at institutional level.
Scenario 2: Breed Registry + Performance Testing
Animal: Cattle "Red Star 42"
Studbook 1: "Angus Cattle National Registry" (breed purity)
Studbook 2: "Performance-Tested Angus Program" (genetic improvement)
Breed registry tracks purebred lineage. Performance program tracks production
genetics and breeding values. Complementary breeding program participation.
Scenario 3: Research Lines + Central Colony
Animal: Mouse "Strain A - Individual 123"
Studbook 1: "Laboratory Strain A Breeding Colony" (facility-specific)
Studbook 2: "International Strain A Reference Population" (research coordination)
Facility manages local breeding. International studbook maintains strain genetic
standards across institutions. Ensuring research reproducibility globally.
Multi-studbook participation provides flexibility. Complex breeding coordination without data duplication.
Studbook Coordination and Management
Program Coordinator Role: Breeding programs can designate coordinator responsible for:
- Reviewing breeding recommendations
- Coordinating breeding across institutions
- Making population management decisions
- Updating population analysis
- Communicating with program participants
Example coordination workflow:
Annual Breeding Season - Endangered Parrot Program:
January: Coordinator analyses population genetics and demographics
February: System generates breeding recommendations based on genetic data
March: Coordinator reviews recommendations, approves specific pairings
April: Participating institutions receive breeding assignments
May-August: Breeding season, institutions attempt assigned pairings
September: Breeding outcomes reported, offspring registered in studbook
October: Coordinator updates population analysis
November: Annual report circulated to participating institutions
December: Planning for next season based on population trends
Result: Coordinated breeding across 8 institutions producing 12 offspring
maintaining genetic diversity while avoiding inbreeding through
systematic annual planning cycle.
Coordinator provides oversight. Ensures breeding program achieves genetic goals. Conservation targets. Breed improvement through organised decision-making.
Searching and Finding Animals
Studbook entry search helps locate animals quickly:
Search capabilities:
- Search by studbook identifier
- Search by animal name or identification (ear tag, microchip, RFID)
- Filter by active/inactive status
- Filter by sex
- Filter by entry date range
- Find all entries in specific studbook
Example searches:
- "Find studbook entry SOEP-2024-M-015"
- "Show all active male entries in African Elephant programme"
- "Find entries registered between Jan 2023 and Dec 2023"
- "Show inactive entries (historical animals for pedigree research)"
Quick search ensures efficient studbook management across large breeding populations.
Integration with Core Animal Management
Studbook entries link to core animal records:
Complete Animal Information Available: When viewing studbook entry, access full animal data:
- Basic information (name, species, sex, date of birth)
- Physical identifications (microchip, ear tag, RFID)
- Current location (property, subdivision)
- Health records and observations
- Treatments and medical history
- Photos and multimedia
Example integrated view:
Studbook Entry View:
Studbook Information:
Studbook: "Black Rhino European Programme"
Studbook ID: "BRP-2023-F-042"
Entry Date: 2023-08-15
Status: Active
Origin: "Transferred from Warsaw Zoo"
Animal Information (from core records):
Name: "Zara"
Species: Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis)
Sex: Female
Date of Birth: 2018-03-22 (Age: 6 years, 8 months)
Microchip: 985112345678902
Current Location: Berlin Zoo, Rhino Habitat 2
Recent Health:
- Last checkup: 2024-10-15 (good health)
- Weight: 892 kg
- Breeding status: Optimal breeding age
Pedigree Links:
- Parents: Dam "Amara" (BRP-2015-F-018), Sire "Jabari" (BRP-2016-M-009)
- Offspring: 1 calf "Kito" born 2023-05-12
Available for breeding recommendations: Yes
Priority: Medium (healthy female, good genetics, underrepresented lineage)
Integration ensures breeding decisions consider complete animal context. Health, age, location, breeding history. Without duplicate data entry.
Common Studbook Scenarios
Starting a Conservation Breeding Program
Scenario: Wildlife sanctuary establishing breeding program for endangered parrots.
Setup:
- Create studbook: "Regional Parrot Conservation Programme"
- Register 12 parrots with studbook identifiers
- Designate conservation coordinator
- Document conservation status (Endangered)
Result: Organised breeding program foundation. Supports future pedigree documentation. Enables breeding recommendations. Facilitates population monitoring.
Breed Association Registry
Scenario: Cattle breed association maintaining official registry.
Setup:
- Create studbook: "National Hereford Registry - 2024"
- Member farms register breeding cattle with official studbook numbers
- Studbook identifiers become official breed registration numbers
- Pedigrees documented for all registered animals
Result: Transparent breed registry with permanent identification. Supports pedigrees. Enables animal valuation. Maintains breed standard.
Multi-Institutional Zoo Breeding
Scenario: Three zoos coordinating elephant breeding.
Setup:
- Create shared studbook: "Regional Elephant Breeding Cooperative"
- Each zoo registers participating elephants
- Coordinator tracks animals across all three institutions
- Breeding recommendations consider entire population not just individual zoos
Result: Coordinated breeding maximising genetic diversity across institutions. Avoids inbreeding through comprehensive population view.
Research Colony Management
Scenario: Laboratory managing multiple mouse strains.
Setup:
- Create separate studbook for each strain
- Register breeding animals in appropriate strain studbooks
- Track genetics within each strain independently
- Monitor population sustainability for each line
Result: Organised genetic management per strain. Ensures research reproducibility. Maintains genetic consistency across experimental colonies.