Beef Improvement Records is a service provided through performance programs at the
American Angus Association to assist purebred and commercial cattle producers in
making progress through genetics. The level of participation is in the hands of
the producer, but the dynamic performance system has benefits to all users.
AHIR
For years, registered Angus breeders have capitalized on progress through performance
by enrolling and participating in the Angus Herd Improvement Records (AHIR) program.
AHIR is available for registered Angus breeders who are serious about making genetic
progress in their herds through the use of performance records. The records submitted
to the Association through AHIR include weights and measures, as well as carcass
and ultrasound data. The records are stored along with millions of other records
in the Association's database, the largest beef cattle database in use. The records
submitted are utilized in the Angus National Cattle Evaluation to calculate selection
tools such as Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs) and $Value Indexes. These tools
are then provided to Association members and their customers and can be used to
make informed breeding decisions.
BRS
Commercial producers with interest in Angus genetics have the Angus Beef Record
Service (BRS) as an opportunity to record performance data at all production levels
on their cow herds and calf crops, regardless of breed composition. The program
provides a unique opportunity for you to evaluate your commercial cattle productivity
by tying to the 40 years of performance data maintained by the American Angus Association.
Records are summarized to provide adjusted measures and ratios; however, EPDs are
not generated on commercial cattle. Reports are generated by the Association to
allow you to evaluate and compare the data, characterize your commercial cow herds,
and work toward a higher-quality, more marketable product for your customer.
Enrollment
Cost of the program is $3.00 per calf assessed at the time of first weight submission, whether first weight
is a birth or weaning weight. To enroll in Beef Improvement
Records (AHIR) you will need to obtain an enrollment form by contacting the
Performance Programs department at 816-383-5100 or
click here
. Once the enrollment form is received via fax or mail (signature
is required on file), you will receive a preprinted calving and weaning report.
If dams are not listed on this report (purchased, young replacement heifer or commercial
dam), you may write those in the blank spaces provided at the end of the calving
and weaning report form. Commercial dams require a herd ID and birth date. Commercial
sires need only a herd ID. If submitting data online, new dams can be added by clicking
the box 'Get Dam by Herd ID.'
If members of your family or business associates have cattle that run in the same
herd, these cattle can be ratioed together and processed in the same contemporary
groups by using 'main' and 'secondary' codes. One code will need to be designated
as the main code. The others will be assigned as secondaries. The cattle in each
herd will retain their rightful ownership. All performance data will be submitted
by the main code and will be returned to the main code address. Indicate the secondary
codes on the enrollment form.
The records submitted to the Association include breeding, calving, weaning and
yearling performance, as well as carcass data and ultrasound measurements if available.
Program participants can submit performance records three primary ways: electronically
with the use of the Internet or with Angus Information Management Software (AIMS),
or on paper via conventional mail. If producers are interested in submitting and/or
viewing their data via the Internet, they can access the information through AAA
Login at
www.angusonline.org.
Submitting electronic data.
The Internet and AIMS are more efficient ways
to use AAA Performance Programs. Both AIMS and AAA Login offer you the most current
information on your herd and eliminate the "paper shuffle."
AAA Login at
www.angusonline.org
allows
members to access information by obtaining a unique and private password. Once members
have their password, they can submit their performance measures and other information
and view their updated information online. Information on the Web site is available
seven days a week, 24 hours a day.
AIMS is the record-keeping software created for the American Angus Association and
its members. Once a member purchases AIMS, a listing of their herd is sent to them
on disk, and they can submit weights and manage their herd via AIMS and e-mail.
AIMS is available only to American Angus Association members and affiliates. For
more information or to order, contact the AIMS department at the address below or
go to
www.angus.org/aims.
American Angus Association
AIMS Department
3201 Frederick Ave.
Saint Joseph, MO 64506
Email: aims@angus.org
Breeding records.
For the most complete use of AHIR, it is advantageous
to monitor and record your breeding inputs. Submission of records is strongly encouraged.
Records include fields for breeding dates and AI sires, as well as pasture mating,
with details on synchronization and pregnancy results. Future research will focus
on the use of these records in Angus reproductive efficiency studies and development
of genetic tools.
Calving and weaning.
As your calves are born, it is important to weigh within
24 hours of birth using a scale and record the birth weight information on the Calving
and Weaning Report. A calving ease score can be recorded on females calving. You
will want to measure your calves' weaning weights when a group of them is near an
average age of 205 days old. Weaning weights must be taken when an individual calf
is between 120 and 280 days old. Once you have collected calving or weaning records,
you will submit this information to the Association.
The Performance Programs department will process the calving and weaning information
as part of the Association's database. The following items are available based on
the customer preferences you choose for reports and summaries: a Weaning Summary
that lists calves both by sire group and calf identification, a Yearling Report
and an ultrasound barnsheet to record ultrasound information that is measured by
a certified Centralized Ultrasound Processing (CUP) technician.
Proper contemporary grouping.
Establishing proper contemporary groups is
essential in providing accurate and predictable performance records necessary to
generate EPDs. A contemporary group is a set of two or more calves of the same sex
and similar age that have been managed under similar practices. Contemporary groups
should include as many animals as can be accurately compared. For more information
about contemporary groups, access the Association Web site at www.angus.org, or
contact the Performance Programs department.
Mature cow size data.
Cows should be measured for weight, hip height and
body condition score within 45 days of weaning. Cows without body condition scores
will not be used in calculating mature weight and height EPDs. Only cows that wean
a calf will be included in the mature size database.
Yearling measures.
Measurements on all animals should be taken between 320
and 440 days of age to be adjusted to 365 days. The group should average as close
to 365 days as possible. Enter those weights and measures (scrotal circumference,
temperament, yearling height) on the Yearling Report, and submit to the Association.
Ultrasound.
These ultrasound images are collected by a UGC certified field
technician between 320 and 440 days of age for bulls and 320 and 460 days for heifers.
Weaning weights submitted prior to the scanning date are required to process ultrasound
data. The ultrasound field technician sends the images to one of the American Angus
Association's authorized ultrasound processing labs for interpretation by a UGC
certified lab technician, along with the barnsheet generated when weaning weights
are submitted. If you do not have a barnsheet, contact the Performance Programs
department. The interpreted records from the scans are then sent to the Association
for adjustments, EPD calculations and summaries that are provided to the breeders.
