Calving season is in full swing and even wrapping up in some areas. Producers put a lot of hard work and grit into getting calves on the ground and creating a marketable product. Across the country, commercial cattlemen are taking advantage of the AngusLink^® program to communicate the genetic merit of their cattle to potential buyers and earning premiums as a result.

Steps to enroll

1. Complete an Age and Source Verification enrollment form with our partner, IMI Global, a division of Where Food Comes From. Calving records documenting the first and last calf birth dates are submitted as part of the verification. Electronic identification (eID) tags identifying enrollment in the program are included with Age and Source Verification and ordered during the initial enrollment process.
2. Provide a complete list of bulls that were used last breeding season to sire the calves you wish to market. Producers utilizing artificial insemination (AI), leasing bulls or purchasing bred females will need to submit documentation for any sires additional to owned natural-service bulls. For assistance in locating registration numbers for registered Angus bulls previously purchased, contact the American Angus Association office for a herd inventory report.
3. Receive an AngusLink certificate documenting the genetic merit of the calves once enrollment is complete. The verification documents and Genetic Merit Scorecard^® will tie to the calves throughout the supply chain, including feedyards and packers. Advertising of calves enrolled in the program is offered at no cost on the AngusLink website and featured in a weekly email to feedyard buyers.

AngusLink program offerings

The AngusLink enrollment form provides a broad selection of program options. Each program follows the same simple process — beginning with Age and Source Verification enrollment, submitting a list of bulls used and finishing with receiving a certificate for program completion.

• AngusVerified^SM: a USDA process-verified program documenting all calves are sired by registered Angus bulls. Producers submit sire records for the breeding season, listing the Angus bulls turned out in the breeding pasture along with AI sires, purchased bred females or leased bulls. All bulls must be registered with and transferred through the American Angus Association.
• Genetic Merit Scorecard (GMS): an objective, quantifiable marketing tool to document the genetic merit of the calves based on the sires and breed composition of the cow herd. Scores range from 0 to 200, with a score of 100 representing the industry-average feeder calf. A Beef Score, Feedlot Score and Grid Score are available for any calf crop of which a majority is sired by Angus bulls, with at least 75% registered sires. A Maternal Score is included for producers who qualify for AngusVerified and wish to market replacement females. To receive a GMS score, producers list bulls used to sire the enrolled calves and provide a breed description for the cow herd.
• GeneMax-enhanced Genetic Merit Scorecard. A part of the suite of tools offered by the American Angus Association, the GeneMax^® Advantage™ test allows producers to better characterize their cow herd, with those results feeding directly into the calculation of the Genetic Merit Scorecard. To ensure this added layer of genetic insight is captured, producers who have used GeneMax Advantage should simply check the box indicating prior GeneMax testing on the AngusLink enrollment form.
• Projected Genetic Merit Scorecard. Designed for marketing bred females, this scorecard reflects the estimated genetic potential of calves in utero using service sire expected progeny differences (EPDs), industry benchmarks and female breed composition. Producers looking to market bred heifers should submit sire breeding records alongside their enrollment form.

Wrapping up

Documenting the Angus genetics of calves has never been easier. There is no separate cost for participating in AngusVerified or the Genetic Merit Scorecard program. All costs for the AngusLink programs are covered under the Age and Source Verification charged by IMI Global.