Enrollment

Cost of the program is $3.00 per calf assessed at the time of first weight submission, whether first weight is a birth or weaning weight. To enroll in Beef Improvement Records you will need to obtain an enrollment form by contacting the Performance Programs department at 816-383-5100 or click here. Once the enrollment form is received via fax or mail (signature is required on file), you will receive a preprinted calving and weaning report. If dams are not listed on this report (purchased, young replacement heifer or commercial dam), you may write those in the blank spaces provided at the end of the calving and weaning report form. Commercial dams require a herd ID and birth date. Commercial sires need only a herd ID. If submitting data online, new dams can be added by clicking the box 'Get Dam by Herd ID.' If members of your family or business associates have cattle that run in the same herd, these cattle can be ratioed together and processed in the same contemporary groups by using 'main' and 'secondary' codes. One code will need to be designated as the main code. The others will be assigned as secondaries. The cattle in each herd will retain their rightful ownership. All performance data will be submitted by the main code and will be returned to the main code address. Indicate the secondary codes on the enrollment form.

Data Submission

The records submitted to the Association include breeding, calving, weaning and yearling performance, as well as carcass data and ultrasound measurements if available. Program participants can submit performance records three primary ways: electronically with the use of the Internet or with Angus Information Management Software (AIMS), or on paper via conventional mail. If producers are interested in submitting and/or viewing their data via the Internet, they can access the information through AAA Login at www.angusonline.org

Submitting electronic data. The Internet and AIMS are more efficient ways to use AAA Performance Programs. Both AIMS and AAA Login offer you the most current information on your herd and eliminate the "paper shuffle."

Calving and weaning

As your calves are born, it is important to weigh within 24 hours of birth using a scale and record the birth weight information on the Calving and Weaning Report. A calving ease score can be recorded on females calving. You will want to measure your calves' weaning weights when a group of them is near an average age of 205 days old. Weaning weights must be taken when an individual calf is between 120 and 280 days old. Once you have collected calving or weaning records, you will submit this information to the Association.

The Performance Programs department will process the calving and weaning information as part of the Association's database. The following items are available based on the customer preferences you choose for reports and summaries: a Weaning Summary that lists calves both by sire group and calf identification, a Yearling Report and an ultrasound barnsheet to record ultrasound information that is measured by a certified Centralized Ultrasound Processing (CUP) technician.

Proper contemporary grouping

Establishing proper contemporary groups is essential in providing accurate and predictable performance records necessary to generate EPDs. A contemporary group is a set of two or more calves of the same sex and similar age that have been managed under similar practices. Contemporary groups should include as many animals as can be accurately compared. For more information about contemporary groups, access the Association Web site at www.angus.org, or contact the Performance Programs department.