The recent enhancements and the new design have put the American Angus Association in a more current and relevant position as this is a very well designed and informative website — www.angus.org. 

I understand change is hard as I have had to relearn a lot of things since the change. But it is fun, and I have learned more about the Association because I have clicked on pages that I did not know were available.

I have a few helpful suggestions in case you are wondering where your favorite pages are, and how to find forms and rules relevant to your operation.

As a member or a new member just getting started, I would get familiar where everything is by just exploring and getting a broad overview. Then narrow down where the pages relevant to your operation are found.

Member Center is where the Breeder’s Reference Guide is found. The Breeder’s Reference Guide is a flip-book version that is easier to navigate. It can also be downloaded for reference. If you download, just remember the Breeder’s Reference Guide is updated from time to time and is always changing.

On the Member Center page, the Rules and Forms essential for registering cattle can be found here. Again, the Breeder’s Reference Guide is here along with the Sales Terms and Conditions. There are also videos on how to register cattle by paper or online.  

You can find registration forms along with membership forms, order blanks and the bull permit. At the bottom of the page is where you will find the fees that are required for membership and registration costs.

I would also encourage everyone to click on the Tools & Resources page accessible from anywhere while you are on the site. This is one of the most informative pages that will pertain to your operation, containing everything from Sire Evaluation Reports, DNA submitting and collecting instructions. This section will answer any questions you might have about the genetic conditions policy and the abnormal calf report.

With Tools and Resources, you will find all the searches and calculators. This is also another place to find an animal and find a breeder. These searches are also available at the top of each page. The Pathfinder Search is available on this page along with several other helpful tools that pertain to making breeding decisions and help with other topics, such as the Age in Days Calculator.  

Another page I would like to draw your attention to is under Programs on the homepage. This is where you will find everything from Angus Media to Angus Herd Improvement Records (AHIR®). The AHIR is one of the best places to find information regarding data collection and how and when is the best time to collect data. This is also where Angus University lives, and is one of my favorite resources for more information on all things Angus.

As the months go by and you continue to familiarize yourself with the website and have suggestions, please remember we are a member organization and will consider all suggestions and make change to make the member experience the best it can be.