The Link
Value beyond the score.
July 9, 2026
Summer sale season is upon us, and every set of calves has a story to tell. The question is: How clearly is yours being told?
In today’s competitive marketplace, buyers are looking for signals they can trust with information that helps them evaluate value, predict performance and make confident purchasing decisions. Programs like AngusLink® help provide information and improve how genetic merit is communicated.
The Genetic Merit Scorecard® (GMS) serves as a standardized way to communicate genetic merit. It gives producers the ability to showcase the genetic merit of their calf crop, offering transparency and added confidence to buyers evaluating cattle in a competitive marketplace.
That confidence helps set priorities for the next calf crop — whether selecting bulls or managing feed resources.
Turning a score into a strategy
Receiving your Genetic Merit Scorecard is an important milestone, but it’s only the beginning.
Beyond sending signals in the marketplace, the Genetic Merit Scorecard can be used as an annual report to dive deeper and set priorities for the year ahead. The long-term result of the GMS comes from utilizing it as a management tool on your operation.
The scorecard is your tool. The percentile chart is your context.
Developed by the American Angus Association, genetic merit scores are standardized on a scale of 0 to 200, with the industry average set at 100. Each year the industry average is updated to reflect the genetic progress across the beef industry. As cattle continue to improve in feedlot value and carcass merit, the benchmark evolves as well, ensuring producers have a current and relevant tool for evaluating and comparing genetic performance.
For many producers, receiving a GMS naturally leads to the next question: How do my scores rank against the industry?
At its core, the question goes beyond comparison. It’s about continuing to make progress while raising cattle that meet the needs of an evolving consumer.
Comparison leads to direction
Yes, these numbers provide information to buyers in the marketplace regarding how your cattle are expected to perform in the feedlot and on the rail based on the genetics behind them.
Just as importantly, these scores are providing indicators back to you — the decision-maker. These indicators will allow you to set your next priority at the pace of the industry. That’s where understanding context becomes just as important as the score itself.
The Genetic Merit Scorecard Percentile Chart is the context allowing you to measure your score against the industry, ensuring you are progressing at a pace that aligns with where the industry is heading. Think of it as a yardstick. A score of 100 places you right at industry average, while anything above or below provides direction as you work to set the priorities for your operation.
By using the percentile chart, you can evaluate whether your operation is progressing at a pace that aligns with the industry and helps determine where to focus next.
The value of the score doesn’t stop at measurement. The measurement allows you to consider the outcome and turn this into intention. What started as a question of “Where does my score fall within the industry?” evolves into “What does my score tell me about where I want to go next?”
Each year as you review the Genetic Merit Scorecard for your calf crop, you’ll begin to discover the bigger story you are trying to tell with your genetics. Over time, the patterns from the scores tell the story of the strengths in genetic selections, how cattle perform and ultimately how your cattle are meeting the needs of the beef supply chain.
When integrated into your broader marketing plan, AngusLink programs become more than just a measurement. They provide a roadmap for better decisions while strengthening the story you are telling buyers.
Strengthen your calves’ story
In today’s market, telling your calves’ story matters. Clear storytelling is often backed by data, consistency and transparency. AngusLink programs support these elements by offering clear information that helps better understand the value of your genetics.
Editor’s note: Sarah Dreyer is commercial programs lead for the American Angus Association. For more information about AngusLink or the Genetic Merit Scorecard, visit https://www.angus.org/anguslink.
Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA, Vol. 18, No. 7-A
Topics: Business , Feeder-Calf Marketing Guide , Marketing , Genetics
Publication: Angus Beef Bulletin
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