The SA Agricultural Union supported the establishment of a General Stud Book for South Africa as far back as 1903, due to the need for a structured method to keep track of the pedigrees of pure bred animals of different breeds in South Africa. On 15 Augustus 1905, the SA Stud Book Association was formally instituted during a conference of the colonial stud breeders’ societies in Bloemfontein. The SA Stud Book and Animal Improvement Association became a full member of the International Committee for Animal Recording (ICAR) in September 1997. During this time SA Stud Book was, responsible for, among others, the management, development and maintenance of the livestock improvement database, which contains more than 50 million animal records. SA Stud Book obtained the right to use ICAR’s special “stamp of quality” on its records and publications in early 2007, after passing an inspection of its systems and procedures in 2006. Services rendered by SA Stud Book include; To assist in the improvement of production efficiency of farm Animals in South Africa and elsewhere; To keep records of the pedigrees, recording certificates and production data of animals and to issue certificates of registration recording, production and genetic merit and to publish this information; To encourage and promote the breeding and genetic improvement of the production efficiency potential of animals; To verify the integrity of all recorded data; To verify the pedigrees and other information of imported animals; To manage the LOGIX Animal Recording database (www.logix.org.za) and LOGIX Animal Recording (LAR); To safeguard and advance the common interests of breeders of pure-bred animals participating in the services of the Association as well as breeders of commercial animals in South Africa and other countries; To render technical, scientific and other advisory services to members and others.