How to Read an OFA Report:

A Border Collie Buyer's Guide to Health Testing

by Chatgpt

If you've started researching Border Collie breeders, you've probably seen the phrase "OFA Certified" or "OFA Tested." But what does that actually mean, and how can you tell whether a breeder is truly doing everything they should?

Understanding an OFA report empowers you to ask informed questions and make better decisions when choosing a puppy. In this guide, we'll explain what the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is, how to read an OFA report, and why health testing is only one piece of responsible breeding.

What is the OFA?

The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is a nonprofit organization that maintains one of the largest public databases of canine health screening results in North America. Veterinarians and specialists submit test results to the OFA, where they are reviewed and recorded.

The OFA does not "approve" breeders or guarantee that a dog will never develop disease. Instead, it provides standardized health evaluations that breeders and puppy buyers can use to make informed decisions.

Why OFA Testing Matters

Health testing helps reduce the risk of passing inherited conditions to future generations. While no breeder can guarantee a puppy will never experience a health issue, responsible breeders use health testing to make thoughtful breeding decisions that improve the overall health of the breed.

Health testing demonstrates that a breeder is evaluating more than appearance—it shows a commitment to preserving soundness and long-term well-being.

Common OFA Tests for Border Collies

Responsible Border Collie breeders often complete some or all of the following evaluations:

Hips

Hip dysplasia is a developmental condition affecting the hip joints. Possible OFA ratings include:

Excellent
Good
Fair
Borderline
Mild Dysplasia
Moderate Dysplasia
Severe Dysplasia

The first three ratings—Excellent, Good, and Fair—are considered passing results.

Excellent hips are uncommon and indicate exceptional joint conformation. Good is the most common passing rating and represents strong, healthy hip structure. Fair is also considered a normal result and many outstanding dogs have Fair-rated hips.

A dog with a Fair rating should not automatically be dismissed. Responsible breeders evaluate the entire dog, its pedigree, family history, and the strengths of the breeding pair.

Elbows

Elbow dysplasia is another inherited orthopedic condition. Results are typically reported as:

Normal
Grade I Dysplasia
Grade II Dysplasia
Grade III Dysplasia

Only "Normal" is considered a passing evaluation.

CAER Eye Examination

Border Collies can inherit several eye disorders. A board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist performs the Companion Animal Eye Registry (CAER) examination. Because some eye diseases develop later in life, this examination should be repeated regularly rather than performed only once.

DNA Testing

Many inherited diseases can now be identified through DNA testing. Depending on the breeder's program, testing may include conditions such as:

Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA)
Trapped Neutrophil Syndrome (TNS)
Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (NCL)
MDR1 Drug Sensitivity
Imerslund-Gräsbeck Syndrome (IGS)
Sensory Neuropathy (SN)
Early Adult Onset Deafness (EAOD)

DNA testing allows breeders to make informed breeding decisions that reduce or eliminate the risk of producing affected puppies.

How to Read an OFA Record

An OFA record often contains several pieces of information.

For example:

BC-12345G24M-VPI

Although the exact format varies, it generally provides information about:

Breed
Registration number
Hip rating
Age at evaluation
Sex
Verification method

The easiest way to understand a dog's results is to read the detailed record available in the OFA database.

Should Every Test Be Perfect?

Not necessarily.

Responsible breeding is about evaluating the whole dog—not chasing perfect scores.

Consider:

Health testing
Pedigree
Longevity of relatives
Temperament
Structure
Working ability
Genetic diversity

For example, an otherwise exceptional dog with Fair hips may contribute more to the breed than a dog with Excellent hips but poor temperament or structural weaknesses. Experienced breeders strive to improve the breed through balanced, thoughtful decisions rather than selecting for a single trait.

Health Testing Does Not Guarantee Perfect Health

This is one of the biggest misconceptions among puppy buyers. Health testing reduces risk—it does not eliminate it.

Many conditions are influenced by multiple genes, growth, nutrition, exercise, injuries, and environmental factors. Even puppies from extensively health-tested parents can experience unexpected medical conditions later in life. The goal of responsible breeding is risk reduction, not impossible guarantees.

Questions Every Puppy Buyer Should Ask

When speaking with a breeder, consider asking:

Can I see the OFA records for both parents?
Which DNA tests have been completed?
Have the parents had recent eye examinations?
Why did you choose this breeding pair?
Have previous puppies from these lines experienced health issues?
How do you use health testing to make breeding decisions?

A reputable breeder should welcome these questions and be happy to discuss their program.

Red Flags to Watch For

Be cautious if a breeder:

Says a veterinarian's routine exam is the same as OFA testing.
Cannot provide documentation for health claims.
Claims their dogs have "never had any problems" without supporting evidence.
Avoids discussing inherited health conditions.
Believes DNA testing alone replaces orthopedic or eye evaluations.

Transparency is one of the strongest indicators of a responsible breeder.

Final Thoughts

Health testing is one of the most valuable tools available to responsible breeders, but it's only one piece of the puzzle.

The best breeding programs combine comprehensive health evaluations with careful pedigree research, temperament assessment, structural evaluation, and a commitment to lifelong support for every puppy they produce.

When choosing a Border Collie breeder, don't simply ask whether health testing was performed. Ask how those results influence the breeder's decisions. The answers will tell you far more about the quality of the breeding program than a list of passing test results alone.