Not Yet Finished!!

This information is based upon our own research and our own opinions.  It is provided to all as a quick resource to better understand the organizations that register the miniature zebu and how it all works.  The whole thing can be a bit confusing, so we'll do our best to keep it simple.

There are currently 2 organizations that are dedicated to registering and promoting the Miniature Zebu breed of cattle: the International Miniature Zebu Association (IMZA) and the American Miniature Zebu Association (AMZA).

Most miniature zebu owners find their animal is more valuable when its history is officially documented and the animal is formally registered with a sanctioning organization.  There are several different types of classifications that an animal may be registered as, and there are slight variations between the 2 registries.  The official classification of an animal is denoted on its registration document with a specific letter prefix.

Registration types are as follows

IMZA                                Definition                                Official Prefix

Foundation Pure            Animals either 1) entered into the registry during the original open registration from 1991 - 1996 that met all breed standards to become original foundation stock,  2) direct descendants of original foundation stock, whose parents are registered and whose histories are fully documented, or 3) animals with at least one foundation pure parent who meet the qualifications through the up-breeding program to achieve foundation pure status            (Prefix)  T (under 3 years of age), Z (3 years of age or older)

Native Pure                    Animals that have a foundation pure father and a mother that is a percentage pure.  (See official IMZA rules for more details, too complicated for this forum.)  Basically, to achieve Native Pure status, percentage animals must be bred back to foundation pure animals until their offspring are "almost" pure, at which point the offspring will eventually be labeled Native Pure.            (Prefix)  P

Percentage Animals               Animals whose owner can document one parent as foundation pure, but cannot document the purity of the other parent.  The offspring of these animals may be eligible to be registered as Native Pure.  Percentage animals can not be registered.

Appearance Pure

(Find out: Can a native pure ever be bred up to foundation pure status??)

International Miniature Zebu Association

Founded:    1991

Status:    Non-Profit Corporation

Registry Status:    Closed ** (click for more info)

Registrations Types:    Foundation Pure

                                        Native Pure

                                        Percentage Pure

                                        Appearance Pure

                                        (click for more info)

Mission as stated by the IMZA:    To publish a breeding registry and to stimulate and regulate any and all other matters such as may pertain to the history, breeding, exhibition, publicity, sale or improvements of this breed.

Additional Information: www.miniature-zebu-cattle.com

Contact Information:

IMZA

PO Box 66

Crawford, NE 69339

Phone: 308-665-3919

Fax: 308-665-1931

E-Mail: rarebreed@bbc.net

General Information:    The IMZA was the original registering body for the Miniature Zebu breed.  Upon its inception, the organization gathered information and history on all miniature zebu presented for registration that met the breed standard set forth by the organization.  After 5 years of allowing new animals to be entered into the registry as original foundation stock, the registry was closed to the entrance of any new animals in 1996.  Only animals that were pure or partial descendants of the original foundation stock could be entered into the registry after the registry was closed.

In 2006, after much request from miniature zebu owners, the IMZA introduced a new registration type that allowed animals that were not able to be registered in the past to now be registered under a new classification.  This allowed animals 1) whose owners bought miniature zebu without papers, 2) whose owners had failed to keep up with an animals registration paperwork, or 3) whose owners were not completely sure of the parentage of their animal, to bring their animals back into the breed registry under a special classification, Appearance Pure.

American Miniature Zebu Association