During the past decade, GeneMax^® Advantage™ has proven itself to be a trusted genomic selection tool for commercial Angus producers using registered Angus bulls. Backed by the most comprehensive beef database in the industry and powered by the American Angus Association, it has consistently empowered commercial cattlemen to make confident, data-driven decisions that shape the future of their herds.

GeneMax is tailored for commercial Angus females, offering predictions for 19 traits across maternal, feedlot, carcass and management areas. Scores are easy to interpret on a 1-to-100 scale, helping producers align genetics with their specific goals and environment. Today, its value is well-recognized across the industry as a reliable standard in genetic selection.

We know that testing alone isn’t enough. Progress comes from acting on the results. That’s why we’re excited to share the story of a longtime customer who has used GeneMax as the foundation of his herd’s genetic improvement strategy.

From data to decisions

Over the years, GeneMax Advantage has become a cornerstone of genetic decision-making for commercial Angus producers, but what does that look like in practice? To answer this, we looked at data from a commercial Angus operation that has used GeneMax consistently for almost 10 years.

The results speak for themselves: Animals selected based on higher GeneMax scores consistently outperformed those with lower scores. During the past five years, this herd has made measurable genetic progress across both maternal and carcass traits, as shown in Fig. 1.

• Weaning weight (WW): up 13 points
• Feeder Advantage: up 6 points
• Cow Advantage: up 11 points
• Total Advantage: up 14 points
• Beef value ($B): up $13
• Combined value ($C): up $23
• Marbling (MARB): up 10 points
• Carcass weight (CW): up 9 points

These gains weren’t random. They directly reflect the traits prioritized in selection decisions.

What’s especially impressive is the balanced progress. 

While maternal traits like Cow Advantage improved significantly, carcass traits such as marbling and carcass weight also saw strong gains. This demonstrates how GeneMax Advantage enables producers to make well-rounded genetic improvements without sacrificing one area for another.

Total improvement

When we look at the heifers born in 2020, the herd ranked in the top 40% for Total Advantage. Thanks to consistent progress over the years, the 2024-born heifers now average in the top 20% of the entire GeneMax population. Even more impressive, nearly half of those 2024 heifers (46%) are in the top 10% of all animals ever tested with GeneMax. This clearly shows how steady use of genomic selection tools can significantly elevate the genetic quality of your herd.

For context, only 17% of the heifers born in 2020 reached the top 10% mark. Looking even further back, just 7% of the 2016-born heifers achieved that same level — a clear sign of the genetic progress made over time.

A $23 increase in $C was observed when comparing heifers born in 2024 to those born in 2020. This improvement reflects a correlated gain, especially considering $Values were only added to the GeneMax portfolio toward the end of 2024.

Similar upward trends were also seen in the other indexes — $B, $G (grid value), $F (feedlot value) and $M (maternal weaned calf value) — highlighting the broader genetic progress achieved through consistent selection and use of genomic tools.

Scaling the benefits

While GeneMax Advantage unlocks your herd’s genetic potential, the overall picture may be incomplete if not all animals are tested. This often happens for various reasons, such as financial constraints. Still, the more animals you test, the better you understand your herd — and that knowledge is key to making informed decisions and driving genetic progress.

As you increase the percentage of tested animals, you gain a clearer, more accurate view of your herd’s genetic potential. This allows for more precise selection and greater consistency. The trend is clear: The more thoroughly genomic tools are used, the more effectively producers can shape their herds for long-term profitability and genetic improvement.

We know that it’s not just about testing the animals — it’s about putting that information to work. Using genomic results to guide selection and breeding decisions has a direct effect on the future genetic merit of your herd.

Eye to the future

GeneMax Advantage isn’t just another genomic test. It’s a powerful, evolving tool designed to help commercial Angus producers make more impactful decisions.

Now stronger than ever, GeneMax has been updated with the addition of $Value indexes and continues to be backed by more than a decade of proven results and the unmatched data strength of the American Angus Association.