The past

History tells us a lot if we are willing to listen, and the American Angus Association history is rich with information. The history of the start of performance evaluation in the Angus breed was not without challenges. 

A Historic Angus Journey, written by Keith Evans, describes many of those challenges, from performance being viewed negatively to lack of understanding to skepticism. However, the foresight of those involved in the creation of Angus Herd Improvement Records (AHIR^®) set the stage for decades to come for the basis of genetic evaluation in registered Angus cattle.

Fast forward from 1958 when AHIR was introduced, more than 60 years later, that foundation and foresight has positioned Angus breeders with incredible opportunity to be genetic leaders in the beef industry. What started as a program with classification in Phase 1 to weaning and yearling weights in Phase 2 has grown into a program that has allowed creation of 22 individual genetic selection tools in the form of expected progeny differences (EPDs) and seven bioeconomic indexes, also known as $Values. 

The present

The AHIR program is the foundation of the weekly genetic evaluation that is built on decades of phenotypes from you, Angus members. Because of you — your dedication to continuing what was started more than six decades ago — the Association is able to use that information and calculate genetic selection tools to allow you and your customers to make more informed decisions with less risk.  

The end of September marked the end of the fiscal year for the Association. As Angus members, you know the value of having your animals represented with phenotypes in the weekly genetic evaluation. Nearly every trait increased in the number of phenotypes submitted in fiscal year 2024 compared to the previous year.

There were more than 347,000 birth weights submitted, which was an increase of 2% from the previous year. Overall total weights including birth, weaning and yearling increased by 1%. Carcass data was up 23%, and feed intake records were up 65%. As we look at management-type traits, there were 11% more foot scores submitted, 59% more hair shed scores and 31% more pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) scores submitted. Looking at mature weights, there were 11% more weights submitted this last fiscal year. 

The future

You as Angus breeders collecting phenotypes and submitting to AHIR supports the future of the breed with possibilities for research. Currently, there are three traits in research that are possible because of your dedication to data collection. 

Looking at data supporting traits currently in a research format, there were more than 53,000 scores submitted for each teat size and udder suspension (an 11% increase), supporting those research efforts for traits only released as research EPDs in August of 2024. 

Inventory Reporting also grew to more than 148,000 females enrolled in the program from 940 herds. This whole herd data laid the foundation for the functional longevity research EPD to come to fruition. 

One might wonder, what is to come next? There is ongoing research around topics concerning bovine congestive heart failure and fertility haplotypes that is being supported by not only data from Angus members, but also the collection of other data points facilitated by the Association to help those research efforts. 

What history tells us about the commitment of Angus breeders during the last 60 years is that there is no challenge too large when we have a common goal of improving the Angus breed and the entire beef industry. When there is a need, Angus members step up and meet that need and, fortunately, are still incredibly dedicated to collecting high-quality phenotypes to add to the database. This continued dedication supports the most accurate tool out there for describing the genetics of registered Angus cattle, the National Cattle Evaluation that delivers updated EPDs every Friday. 

The phenotypes submitted to AHIR, coupled with the genomic tests through Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI), will continue to drive the Angus breed forward through the genetic evaluation. Make sure you are doing your part to keep Angus cattle at the front of the beef industry for commercial cattlemen. You and your dedication are the hero of the past, present and future for the Angus breed.