The Pathfinder program identifies females in the breed who excel in early puberty, early breeding and calving, and producing quality claves on time, year over year. A list of the latest Pathfinder females and sires who have produced at least five Pathfinder daughters is available using the Pathfinder search tool.

Pathfinders are identified with a # sign in front of their registration number. Members can print 2026 Pathfinder certificates for their qualifying animals from their AAA Login account by going to Reports > Dam Report or Sire Report > Pathfinder Awards. 

To qualify, a female must have had a minimum of three calves and have produced a calf within the past 18 months that was reported through Angus Herd Improvement Records (AHIR^®). The cow must also meet the following criteria:  

• Produce her first calf by 2 years and 181 days of age.  

• Calve her first calf within 30 days of the herd’s average age for first calving. This is determined separately for each herd from all first calf heifers reported in the herd.  

• Maintain a regular calving interval. The maximum calving interval is:  

• Her first three calves must post a minimum average progeny weaning weight ratio of 105. OR she must reach an average progeny weaning weight of 105, later in life.  

• A minimum of five calves in single-sex contemporary group is required each year to calculate the average. 

• Calves must be sired by a Registered Angus bull.  

Females must meet the requirements annually to be included in the annual report, but once designated a Pathfinder Cow, is always a Pathfinder. 

Access these additional AHIR Resources:  

• Program Information
• Pathfinder Search Tool
• How to Collect 
• How to Submit