Jerry Cassady and Chris Stallo explain how commercial cattlemen are turning to seedstock producers for maternal traits that have been difficult to characterize. [Photos by Karen Hiltbrand]
Focusing on Longevity with AHIR
The American Angus Association announces updates to the Angus Herd Improvement Records program.
Jerry Cassady, director of member services, and Chris Stallo, chief operating officer of the American Angus Association, presented the “Focusing on Longevity” panel Nov. 8 at the 137th Angus Annual Meeting in Kansas City, Mo. The discussion shared how commercial cattlemen are turning to seedstock producers for maternal traits that have been difficult to characterize. Cassady and Stallo said that with the implementation of an inventory reporting option through the Angus Herd Improvement Records (AHIR®) program, the Angus breed will collect more data useful in characterizing fertility and longevity to better serve all sectors of the industry.
Inventory reporting is the new, simplified option within AHIR, which focuses on capturing hard-to-reach traits while keeping inventory current on your cow herd. A major advantage of inventory reporting is that it gives full credit to the high performers in a herd. The information gathered from disposal and reason codes while accounting for each calf born is especially informative for the Association and the Angus breed’s end goal — the focus on longevity.
Inventory reporting is located on a member’s AAA Login homepage with a simplified, step-by-step guide to walk members through updating their cow herd. Enrollees are required to report calf information or provide a disposal code for the cow or a reason code for why she didn’t have a calf to report. The fee is $2 per female over 12 months of age.
The inventory reporting program features two enrollment periods — November-January and May-July. The most effective time to enroll is after the current calf crop is weaned and before the next calving season begins. Primarily spring-calving herds should enroll November to January, while fall-calving herds are encouraged to enroll from May to July.
Little changes occur for the MaternalPlus® program. Members already enrolled in MaternalPlus are essentially enrolled in inventory reporting.
The American Angus Association hosted an Angus University webinar “Investing in Inventory” Dec. 1 to provide details on the inventory reporting program. Access the webinar at www.angus.org/Education/AngusEducation.aspx. Learn more about AHIR and inventory reporting by going to Angus.org or AAA Login to access the simplified, easy wizard that will walk you through the enrollment process.
Editor’s note: Whitney Whitaker is a communications specialist for the Angus Communications department of the American Angus Association.
