The recent Board meeting hosted at the headquarters of the American Angus Association in Saint Joseph, Mo., resulted in a few changes in policy and the Breeder’s Reference Guide that I think are important for your review as they relate to your operation. The first part relates to a change in the Breeder’s Reference Guide as it pertains to Rule 104d, Calves Produced by Embryo Transplant with changes to sire requirements. This change makes the rule for embryo transfer (ET) calves similar to sire requirements for artificial insemination (AI) sires.

104d. Calves Produced by Embryo Transplant

d. Calves produced by embryo transplant. For calves resulting from an embryo transplant: 

1. The Sire must be DNA-marker-typed or must have been blood-typed before January 1, 2001. The full suite of known commercially available tests for the genetic conditions monitored by the American Angus Association will be required for all bulls, born on or after January 1, 2018, that are the source of semen for the purpose of Embryo Transfer. 

8. Each application for entry must be accompanied by an AI Service Certificate. See Rule 500-506 for Artificial Insemination requirements for an embryo transplant calf.

Paperless preferences

The second change ties closely to a frustration we all deal with nearly daily: the reliability of the United States Postal Service and the increased cost of postage. The American Angus Association plans to transition Association business to paperless preferences. This switch, planned for June 2026, is in an effort to serve the membership in a more timely and efficient manner and ensure mail delays do not affect members’ business needs.   

All member accounts with an email on file and a AAA Login account will be switched to paperless, including invoicing and suspense letters. This will include business conducted with the Association, Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI) and Angus Media. Regardless of paperless preferences, members can access their work history with the Association and its entities in their AAA Login account with the ability to view suspense items, print invoices and pay a balance. 

Members who wish to continue to receive paper communication will be able to opt out by emailing Member Services at angus@angus.org before June 2026. After the switch, the opt out will be available within AAA Login. There will be no additional fee for paper billing. Additional information about the switchover and resources for conducting business through AAA Login will be available and communicated in the coming months via member communication platforms.

Name change fee lowered

Another important item that was discussed was the Membership Name Change Fee. The name change fee was established in 2020 to allow members to change their name on their membership instead of starting a new membership. The fee was set at $500.  

Member feedback on the fee as well as internal efficiencies resulted in Board action to change the fee from $500 to $100. The hope is the lower fee will allow members more flexibility and be able to represent their operation the way they see fit as it relates to their membership. There were no changes to the rule itself; just the fee. Please see the below rule for your reference regarding Membership Name Changes Fee.

Rule 904: Membership Name Change Fee

In the event a member requests to change the name of a membership for any reason and would like to retain the original member code, a membership name change fee established by the Board of Directors will be assessed to the member at the time of the name change. (As adopted Sept. 11, 2020.) In the case of a non-transferable Life Membership, if originally issued as a personal name that is changed (in the case of marriage, divorce or adoption, for example), a one-time no-fee name change will be permitted upon the Association’s receipt of legal name change documents directing the Association to change the name. Should the personal name of the non-transferable Life Member legally change more than once, a membership name change fee established by the Board of Directors will be assessed to the member at the time of the name change (as adopted Feb. 8, 2024).

As always, I encourage everyone to be familiar with the Breeder’s Reference Guide as it pertains to your operation, as it does change from time to time. 

For more information contact the Association Member Services Department at 816-383-5100 or email llanders@angus.org.