Higher Stakes, Better Tools
Herd Intelligence Report, Parent Match give producers more insights into what bulls best fit their breeding objective.
August 11, 2026
The highest-priced cow herd rebuild in history could raise the genetic selection stakes more than ever. With the rising value of genetics showcased week in and week out — at bull sales, commercial female sales and local feeder-calf sales — it’s easy to feel the pressure to make the right decisions.
Just-in-time updates to the market’s only commercial test exclusively designed for high-percentage Angus females strongly position commercial producers for what’s ahead.
GeneMax® Advantage™ allows commercial producers to more easily and dependably identify the right heifers for their herd. In 2024, five dollar-value indexes ($Values), directly comparable to $Values of registered Angus bulls, were added to the test’s suite of results.
Since 2024, five new traits have also been added to the GeneMax test: hair shed (HS), pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP), functional longevity (FL), teat size (Teat) and udder suspension (UDDR).
Next, an integration with AngusLink® enabled commercial producers using both tools to promote an enhanced Genetic Merit Scorecard®.
The latest product updates to this commercial female genomic test — the GeneMax Advantage Herd IntelligenceSM Report and Parent MatchSM — help producers gain more from their investment in testing.
When ordering GeneMax Advantage testing, commercial producers now receive a Herd Intelligence Report with results at no additional cost. The report provides an easy-to-read summary of results from their most recent GeneMax testing order. It focuses primarily on newly tested animals.
Scott Casey of El Dorado Springs, Mo., says the report is for anyone who cares about genetics — where their herd is and where it’s headed.
“There’s always stuff to work on,” he says.
Purchasing power
A numbers person himself, Casey says GeneMax Advantage and the report help commercial producers identify holes in their program, so they can find a bull to help fill them.
“That’s kind of the industry that we’re in,” Casey says. “It’s getting to be more of a numbers game, and our quality is increasing dramatically.”
He also encourages other producers to keep good records and use their cow information when making decisions.
Parent Match, which reports most likely sires and most likely dams for GeneMax-tested individuals, helps confirm farm and ranch records and can help fill in gaps where information is not available.
Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI) has developed the intelligence to compare the DNA of a GeneMax-tested female with more than 2 million possible parents, available through its connection with the American Angus Association’s database, to look for the pairing whose DNA fits the best. These parentage insights empower producers to identify effective sires and manage inbreeding within herds.
Conversation starter
Alex Tolbert, regional manager with the Association, says the GeneMax Advantage Herd Intelligence Report is a great conversation starter for commercial producers and their seedstock providers.
“We encourage GeneMax-testing herds to forward this new report to their seedstock provider the next time they test,” Tolbert says. “Used in combination with an understanding of your herd’s goals, the report gives breeders further insights into what bulls could best help a producer be successful. That’s a win-win.”
Paul Bennett, a seedstock breeder of Red House, Va., echoes Tolbert’s comments.
“I had a call recently from a longtime GeneMax user, and he was really excited about a new feature — that GeneMax Herd Intelligence Report — and he was just really excited to share some of his results with me,” Bennett says. “I thought, that report adds so much value to that information and allows users to get so much more utilization out of the information.”
With the U.S. cow herd at historic lows, capital and confidence returning, and heifer retention slowly increasing, decisions now and in 2027 will shape the next decade and set a trajectory for genetic improvement in the beef industry.
“It’s an exciting time in our business, and we want to do all we can to support producers making the most of the opportunities we have in front of us,” Tolbert says. “Data that’s packaged in an easy-to-understand report is a powerful tool for those already investing in their herds’ genetics.”
For more information on GeneMax testing, visit www.genemaxangus.com to order or submit the “Talk to a Rep about GeneMax” contact form.
Editor’s note: Sarah Moyer is senior communications specialist for the American Angus Association.
Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA, Vol. 19, No. 8-B
Topics: Management , Selection , Sire Evaluation
Publication: Angus Beef Bulletin
Issue: September 2026
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