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 released annually. The 2026 report will be released on Thursday, February 5, 2026. 

Birth data and weaning weights must be submitted by end of business day Friday, January 30, to be included in the 2026 report. 

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 Reporting (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. 
• 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 list, but once designated a Pathfinder Cow, is always a Pathfinder. Pathfinders are identified with a # sign in front of their registration number. Members will be able to print 2026 Pathfinder certificates for their qualifying animals from AAA Login following the release of the report. 

Access these additional AHIR Resources: 

• Pathfinder
• How to Collect
• How to Submit