The Link
Introducing the GeneMax-enhanced Genetic Merit Scorecard.
January 30, 2026
The Genetic Merit Scorecard® (GMS) continues to gain traction, driving demand for cattle with known and accurately described genetics. Real-world results continue validating the science behind the scores — the accuracy and ability to predict performance in both the feedyard and on the rail. With that success, the natural question arises: Why change what works?
The answer is simple: We can always get better. The latest update to the GMS is about improving it further. The more precise the GMS becomes, the more value it creates for the entire industry.
About the update
The GeneMax® AdvantageTM-enhanced GMS is here, bringing together two trusted tools into one streamlined resource for commercial cattlemen.
If at least 10% of the cow herd or replacement females have been tested with GeneMax Advantage, those GeneMax scores will be automatically incorporated into AngusLink’s calculations to better characterize the genetics of the entire cow herd.
This connection represents years of work, beginning with the reinvention of GeneMax Advantage. Recent product updates incorporate the newest genomic knowledge from the world’s largest genetic database, resulting in the most accurate genomic test for commercial Angus females available today.
Producers who test replacement females with GeneMax Advantage receive scores on 22 individual traits and the traditional GeneMax indexes, called Advantage Indexes, as well as dollar value indexes ($Values). Yes, the $Values on commercial animals tested with GeneMax Advantage are directly comparable to the Angus seedstock indexes that producers are accustomed to using when selecting bulls. This delivers the industry’s most powerful heifer selection tool, while enabling more targeted, goal-driven sire selection.
With these improvements, incorporating genomic data from GeneMax Advantage into AngusLink®’s GMS was the logical next step.
The GMS has already proven to be exceptionally accurate, but building values to represent the cow herd side naturally took time. Genomically enhanced EPDs have long improved accuracy on the sire side; now genomics can describe the cow herd just as clearly. The GMS allows commercial producers to be more accurately rewarded for the genetic investments they’ve made.
The process of receiving a GeneMax-enhanced Genetic Merit Scorecard is simple. If at least 10% of the cow herd or replacement females have been tested with GeneMax Advantage, those GeneMax scores will be automatically incorporated into AngusLink’s calculations to better characterize the genetics of the entire cow herd. Producers enroll cattle through AngusLink as usual and check the box confirming testing if it applies to their herd. The GeneMax-enhanced GMS is generated automatically.
Profit-minded connection
This enhancement brings full circle the suite of tools designed by the American Angus Association for commercial cattlemen. It all begins with sire selection, rooted in expected progeny differences (EPDs) powered by the largest genetic, phenotypic and genomic database in the world.
Once you’ve selected the right bulls, GeneMax Advantage offers the most accurate heifer selection tool available, allowing you to build and describe a cow herd that aligns with your goals.
AngusLink has helped commercial producers capture more than $94.5 million in added premiums since 2019, simply by giving buyers the confidence to pay for superior cattle and by promoting those cattle to the right buyers at the right time.
After establishing the right genetics, the focus shifts to capturing their value — marketing your feeder cattle in a way that reflects their true worth. AngusLink has transformed that process. It is the most recognized and trusted method for conveying the genetic merit of commercial feeder cattle.
AngusLink has helped commercial producers capture more than $94.5 million in added premiums since 2019, simply by giving buyers the confidence to pay for superior cattle and by promoting those cattle to the right buyers at the right time. First breed the right cattle; then market them strategically.
Finally, these cattle flow into programs such as the Certified Angus Beef ® (CAB®) brand, which have strengthened beef demand and rewarded cattle that deliver premium-quality beef — the beef consumers are willing to pay more for. Together, the World Angus Evaluation, GeneMax Advantage, AngusLink and Targeting the BrandTM create one of the most predictable, sustainable frameworks available for increasing profitability, improving margins and reducing risk — now and into the future.
If you retain your own replacement females, or if you’re looking to market your calves more effectively, give us a call. We’d be glad to show you how the GeneMax-enhanced GMS can improve your bottom line today and the resilience of your cow herd for years to come.
Editor’s note: Troy Marshall is director of commercial industry relations for the American Angus Association. For more information about AngusLink or the GeneMax-enhanced GMS, click here.
Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA, Vol. 18, No. 2-A
Topics: Business , Feeder-Calf Marketing Guide , Genetics , Marketing , Selection
Publication: Angus Beef Bulletin
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