The Decree establishes the basic principles in matter of animal reproduction. It regulates the creation of a herd book for every animal species to be approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and by stockbreeders' associations. It establishes the requirements for the admission of males of the bovine, swine, ovine, caprine and equine species to reproduction both in case of natural mounting and artificial insemination. The Decree determines also the methods to assess genetic value, and