NFRS Stud Registration

NFRS Stud and Rattery Registration

What is a studname?

A rattery that maintains a high standard of breeding can apply for stud registration with the NFRS when they have earned the required awards at relevant shows. Their rattery name is then referred to as a studname.

Remember that studnames can only be earned from showing merits, so not having a stud name does not mean that a rattery does not breed to a high standard; they may simply not be able to get to many shows.

How do I recognise a registered stud?

You can visit our full stud register by selecting the tab above. Only breeders who have earned their stud name are able to use the stud logo seen here, complete with their individual qualifying registration code.

What is the purpose of the Stud Registration Scheme?

The scheme is the only hallmark of quality breeding in Britain today. It promotes quality breeding to the NFRS standards of excellence, as well as encouraging competitive exhibition to maintain and drive up standards, and recognises breeders’ achievements at shows.

How do you earn a studname?

Earning a studname is based on fulfilling the following show requirements:

• All wins must be earned under fully paid up NFRS championship/show judge
• The individual(s) must be paid up NFRS member(s) to qualify for earning a studname and the rattery name already registered with the NFRS as part of the Novice scheme for at least one year. (For ratteries registering before 1st May 2007, the individual(s) must have been an NFRS member for at least one year.)
• The rat (or rats) in question must be owned and bred by the individual from a dam (or dams) also owned and bred by the exhibitor and attain either of the following awards:
  1. NFRS Silver champion - 8 stars on 1 rat
  2. 2 x BIS/BOA/RBIS on one or two rats with two different judges – at least one win must be at a show where NFRS stars are awarded – the other may be at an NFRS affiliated club show providing the NFRS judge agrees in writing (or signs back of card) that the rat is of suitable quality. (The changeover officially takes place from 1st May 2007 but under grandfather rules, any exhibitor that has attained one of the required wins under the previous studname registration scheme requirements up to the 1st May 2007, can use this to count towards their studname registration.)
• The application must be made to the EC along with supporting prize cards for the rat, the suggested stud name and a registration fee at the current rate.

How do I recognise a registered rattery?

From March 2007, the NFRS introduced the rattery registration scheme. Now, a rattery must have been a member with the club for one year before registering as a rattery. There are no other requirements, so it is important to remember that you are responsible for asking questions to your breeder, as the club cannot approve individuals’ breeding practices.

How do I register my rattery name?

Please note – you must have been a member of the NFRS for at least one year in order to register a rattery name.

To register a rattery, please fill in the below form, and send it to breeders @ nfrs.org, along with the registration fee (sent by cheque or PayPal to treasurer @ nfrs.org). This is a one-off payment, so once you have registered, your rattery name will remain on the rattery registration list as long as your membership is current. You can check which names have been used before by looking at our full list of used names, found here.

What is the etiquette for rattery and stud name registration?

• A rattery or stud is defined as a collection of animals kept and bred at one location.
• No more than one rattery name or studname per membership can be registered, i.e. not possible to register two rattery names or stud names on one membership.
• Any multiple memberships per rattery name or studname must reside under the same roof.
• Custody of registered rattery names or studnames remains with the partner who registered or earned it, or refer to committee where dispute.
• Registered ratteries and studs will be listed on the NFRS website and regularly in Pro-Rat-a.
• The registered name shall be used as a prefix on family trees/birth certificates of rats bred by a registered rattery or stud. A suffix can be used to show the location of the rat if it is not owned by the breeder, i.e. Aardvark Fred at Abc.
• All breeders wishing to be listed on the NFRS Breeders’ List must be registered as ratteries or studs, although it is not compulsory for registered ratteries or studs to be listed on the breeders’ list.
• Ratteries must enter their rats at shows under their given name, not their rattery name. Only registered studnames can have their studname written on prizecards.

What is the Novice Award?

The novice award is aimed at registered ratteries who have not yet earned their studname. There is a Best Novice award/rosette attainable at each NFRS show (or show where NFRS stars are awarded). Points are calculated annually, and the breeder who has earned the most novice points throughout the year will be awarded the Novice Trophy at the AGM. To be eligible for the novice award at a show, the rat must be bred by and in the possession of the exhibitor at the time of entry. The rat must have lived with the breeder since birth.

If an exhibitor gains their studname during the year, the novice points will count up until the time the studname is awarded, when the exhibitor is no longer eligible to enter as a novice.