Montana	29,938
Texas	25,563
Nebraska	22,837
Missouri	22,107
Oklahoma	21,163
South Dakota	19,881
Kansas	19,345
Kentucky	13,148
Iowa	12,470
Tennessee	10,537

Regular membership applications can be accessed online at www.angus.org or by contacting the Association.

A one-year membership for $30 may be issued in the name of an individual, a farm or ranch name, a partnership or a corporation. Regular members receive registration and voting privileges. Annual renewal of regular membership is $30. For an additional $50, members receive the Angus Journal®, the official publication of the American Angus Association.

Junior membership is available to young Angus breeders until they reach 21 years of age. For a junior membership application, contact the Association. Junior membership dues are $20 annually.

Associate memberships are offered to commercial producers who own and use registered Angus bulls. Associate members may participate in all phases of the Angus Herd Improvement Records (AHIR®) program, but they do not have rights to register cattle or to participate in the Association's election of delegates. Associate membership fee is $10.

Residents of countries other than the U.S., its territories or possessions, or Canada may apply to become non-resident members of the Association for $30. Non-resident members register and transfer Angus under the same rules as regular members.

• Mature cows crossed with Angus bulls have virtually no calving problems, regardless of their Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs). Using proven calving-ease Angus bulls will greatly reduce calving difficulties with first-calf heifers as well.
• Calves sired by purebred Angus bulls are polled. Breeders save time and expense by eliminating horns on their calves.
• The dark pigment in Angus and Angus-cross cattle helps prevent cancer eye and snow burned or sunburned udders.
• Cows that excel in maternal characteristics and require minimal care are a trademark of the Angus breed.
• Angus and Angus-influenced feeder cattle are in demand with cattle buyers. They are efficient in the feedlot and have been proven to grade Choice with fewer days on feed than other breeds.
• Angus market animals produce desirable carcasses with well-marbled, fine-textured beef and minimum trim.
• Crossbreeding with a planned two- or three- breed rotational system is proven to provide heterosis or hybrid vigor. Angus cattle can contribute greatly to nearly any crossbreeding plan. Since heterosis is expressed most in improved cow performance, the convenience traits and mothering ability of Angus-influenced mother cows is desirable for many producers. Angus and Angus-cross cows represent a majority of the total U.S cowherd.
• Premiums may be paid for cattle meeting Certified Angus Beef® product specifications.
• The American Angus Association's easy-to-use performance records and EPDs are beneficial to members. The Association's Sire Evaluation Report helps breeders select the right bull for their operation and evaluate their herds' genetic needs.

• Modest or higher degree of marbling
• Medium or fine marbling texture
• "A" maturity (both lean & skeletal)
• 10- to 16-square-inch ribeye area
• Less than 1,000-pound hot carcass weight
• Less than 1-inch fat thickness
• Superior muscling (restricts dairy influence)
• Practically free of capillary rupture
• No dark cutting characteristics
• No neck hump exceeding 2 inches

• Register cattle with the Association
• Receive two issues of the Angus Journal annually
• Participate in junior activities including conferences, shows and other contests
• Compete in showmanship
• Receive officer & director leadership training
• Apply for national Junior Recognition Awards and Scholarships

Ranches who have registered their Web sites with www.angus.org can be found through "member links" on the site.

In addition, many registered Angus breeders advertise in the Angus Journal. They can be found in the advertiser's index. For a subscription, look on www.angusjournal.com or write to the Angus Journal, 3201 Frederick Ave., St. Joseph, MO 64506

AngusSource is a USDA Process Verified Program for Angus-sired calves that documents genetics, source and group age. The program's online listing assists producers with marketing and buyers with locating Angus-sired feeder calves or commercial replacement females.

Once enrolled in AngusSource, producers may list their calves online by completing a marketing document and providing sale information. The online listing of AngusSource enrolled calves is published at www.angussource.com/listings.html. This listing is also e-mailed weekly to individuals interested in purchasing AngusSource calves. Buyers may sign up to receive the weekly e-mails by going to www.angussource.com/feedyards/index.html

The Bull Listing Service (BLS) provides the quickest and easiest way to find registered Angus bulls that fit your operation. Breeders list available bulls for a small fee and potential customers can search for bulls by EPDs, sire groups or location by state. Listings can be viewed at www.angus.org/bls

For more information about AngusSource or the BLS contact the American Angus Association.

AAA Login is a free, online tool that is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Association members may create a password-protected user-profile by visiting www.angusonline.org. An AAA Login profile allows members to submit registrations, transfers and AHIR data to the Association. In addition, it provides access to up-to-date pedigrees, performance data and EPDs/$Values. It also offers the convenience of electronic payment for member dues, and Association accounts, including Angus Productions Inc.

AIMS is a Windows-based herd management tool. It allows producers to compile and store herd info-including sales, health, income and expense records, as well as breeding data-in one location. It can also serve as a database for storing customer names. AIMS is used to simplify AHIR info, which can be transmitted by disk or e-mail. It offers a simulated breeding feature to assist in sire selection, and helps predict EPDs for calves from a selected sire. Ratios, rankings and adjusted weights can also be calculated. Updated EPDs/$Values for all of your animals are also available.

For more information about these tools, click on the AIMS or AAA Login links at www.angus.org. You can e-mail hostmaster@angus.org for more information about AAA Login. For more information about AIMS or to purchase this tool, you can e-mail aims@angus.org.

The Association's communications department sells various Angus goods such as flags, decals, pens and prints of Angus artwork by Frank Murphy. They also sell useful herd management tools such as tattoo kits and educational materials. Contact the communications department for a list of available items.

The Angus Foundation offers a variety of Angus -themed wearables. An Angus history book and various artwork is also for sale. Contact the Foundation for details. A listing of items sold at the Association is also available at www.angus.org.

Angus-themed gifts are available from the Auxiliary. Items can be ordered by going to http://www.angussalebarn.com to view the online catalog.

Tattoos are an effective way to identify cattle. They are permanent and accurate when correctly applied. When tattooed correctly, an animal will have a tattoo in the upper third of each ear, centered horizontally.

Regional managers also work with breeders to make sure their advertising needs are being met through the Angus Journal and Angus Beef Bulletin.

Regional managers can often be found working Angus shows and sales or representing the Association at livestock conventions.

Anyone needing assistance is encouraged to contact regional managers.

Click here for the list of Regional Managers.