Spring & Fall Calving Herds
Review breed specific details below for these notes or give me a call so we can visit in real time about capturing specific phenotype data and desired timing.
DNA Sampling Types
The preferred method of DNA sampling continues to be the Allflex Tissue Sampling Units (TSUs) and unfortunately those have not came down in cost and have actually increased in the past year. While we all search to save money, I would encourage you to avoid purchasing any collectors that have not been approved/promoted as an acceptable sample type. An example would be Caisley Tags. These are not an approved sample type by any breed association or lab yet, and therefore may yield higher sample failure rates. If you have any questions please reach out.
Simmental Members
Fall Herds
– We need to report weaning weights and update disposal codes for calves that are not being kept in the herd. If you need a template let me know or just send me the data you have and we’ll get it reported/updated.
– Mature Cow Weights and Body Condition Scores (BCS) should be collected within 45 days of weaning. It is not critical to weigh the older cows each year, but IT IS important to capture a weight on the first calf heifers after they’ve weaned the first calf. Older females can be weighed every few years to ideally have 2-3 weights taken over their productive life. If you need a copy of the BCS guidelines let me know.
– Fall THE enrollments open April 15 and the deadline is June 15, 2024. I’ll be sending out inventory to update around May 1.
– Performance Advocate status from Fall 2022 should be evaluated here in the next few months, see if there’s any gaps in reporting that you did collect on the farm before they pull the Fall SimTalk list.
Spring Herds
– If you have completed calving, please gather the calf records and let’s go ahead and get them reported into the database. There’s no time like the present. If you’re planning on shipping in DNA samples then we must report all calves to the association prior to sending DNA and each female enrolled on THE either has to have a calf reported or reason why she didn’t calve (productivity code) for the given year/season.
– DNA samples should be collected as soon as possible if you plan on participating in Calf Crop Genomics (CCG). A reminder, the participation requirement is to submit a sample on at least 90% of the calves that are reported to the association for that season. For example, if you have 110 females enrolled in spring THE, 10 cows did not calve for various reasons (no calf reported), 50 dams had heifer calves and 50 dams had male calves. ASA is either going to require you to submit 90 samples or greater if you’re sending in both sexes at the same time OR if you are splitting shipping DNA in between males and females they would then require samples on >45 males and >45 females. This becomes very important!!!! so please collect samples on ALL calves and then once we’ve tallied up the numbers and can go through the data if you have enough samples, you can elect to not test a few if they are not needed.
– Yearling weights from 2023 born animals should all be collected (330-440 days of age) and if you have not sent those over to me please do so and we can get 2023 spring buttoned up and a rebate issued if you qualify from 2023 CCG DNA testing.
– Performance Advocate status from Spring 2023 should be evaluated here in the next few months, see if there’s any gaps in reporting that you did collect on the farm before they pull the Fall SimTalk list.
Red Angus Members
Data Reporting Reminders
Fall Herds
– We need to report weaning weights and update disposal codes for calves that are not being kept in the herd. If you need a template let me know or just send me the data you have and we’ll get it reported/updated. Data is due to RAAA by May 15, 2024.
– Mature Cow Weights and Body Condition Scores (BCS) should be collected within 45 days of weaning. It is not critical to weigh the older cows each year, but IT IS important to capture a weight on the first calf heifers after they’ve weaned the first calf. Older females can be weighed every few years to ideally have 2-3 weights taken over their productive life. If you need a copy of the BCS guidelines let me know.
– Fall heifer exposure records are due to RAAA by April 24th.
Spring Herds
– If you have completed calving, please gather the calf records and let’s go ahead and get them reported into the database. There’s no time like the present. If you’re planning on shipping in DNA samples then we must report all calves to the association prior to sending DNA and each female enrolled on THE either has to have a calf reported or reason why she didn’t calve (productivity code) for the given year/season.
– DNA samples should be collected as soon as possible on calves and you can store at room temperature until you’re ready to move forward with testing.
– Yearling weights from 2023 born animals should all be collected (330-440 days of age) and if you have not sent those over to me please do so and we can get 2023 spring buttoned up.
– Spring 2023 Inactivations are enforced on May 31, 2024 so please make sure if you receive an email or notice from RAAA of a female that did not have a calf reported in 2023 that we do not ignore it if you still have the cow we need to provide a code explaining why she did not have a 2023 born calf or if she did calve, we need to get the data recorded.
Sale Transfers
– If you have not sent me your sale transfer information let’s aim to get that completed here shortly since the association guidelines indicate transferring within 60 days is ideal.
Angus Members
Data Reporting Reminders
Fall Herds
– We need to report weaning weights and update disposal codes for calves that are not being kept in the herd. If you need a template let me know or just send me the data you have and we’ll get it reported/updated.
– Mature Cow Weights and Body Condition Scores (BCS) should be collected within 45 days of weaning. It is not critical to weigh the older cows each year, but IT IS important to capture a weight on the first calf heifers after they’ve weaned the first calf. Older females can be weighed every few years to ideally have 2-3 weights taken over their productive life. If you need a copy of the BCS guidelines let me know.
– Fall Maternal Plus Enrollment – Opens May 1 and is available to update until July 15, 2024. If you have not sent me your 2023 heifer breeding records for 2022 born females please do so since that is a requirement of participation.
Spring Herds
– If you have completed calving, please gather the calf records and let’s go ahead and get them reported into the database. There’s no time like the present. If we submit a registration on a calf prior to 4 months of age it’s $12.00 and 4-10 months is $14.00. This can reduce the cost of registration quite significantly.
*We encourage you to order your AI certificates on bulls you do not own once you’ve decided to move forward with registration, this prevents delays and lengthy suspends.
– DNA samples should be collected as soon as possible on calves and you can store them at room temperature until you’re ready to move forward with testing.
– Yearling weights from 2023 born animals should all be collected and if you have not sent those over to me please do so and we can get 2023 spring buttoned up. Aged yearlings is a great time to evaluate feet & leg scoring as well, if you need an Angus guide for scoring reach out.
Sale Transfers
– If you have not sent me your sale transfer information let’s aim to get that completed here shortly since the association guidelines indicate transferring within 60 days is ideal.
Industry Tidbits
The American Hereford Association’s (AHA) introduction of a genetic condition referred to as Delayed Blindness (DB) now has a test available. Read more about this condition on the AHA website.
American Simmental Association (ASA) has been tracking a genetic condition within a specific line of cattle referred to as Hydrops. They have now integrated this into the TraitTrac portion of an animal search page but as of yet there is not a test available for animals who have a carrier in the lineage. Read more about this condition on the ASA website.
As always – reach out via email, text or phone for more information on any of the above.
datageniellc.com 