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AGA’s Progeny Calculator

GW REGISTRY TIPS ‘N TRICKS GW

AGA’s Progeny Calculator

By Taylor Buckley

Seedstock producers are always striving to produce top of the line genetics. The American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) Online Registry Service offers tools to help members make well-informed mating decisions to reach their goals. As breeders get ready to think about the upcoming breeding season, we want to share how to use the progeny calculator tool in the registry. This tool was built to see percentile rank estimates for all AGA published expected progeny differences (EPDs). This will help give an idea of which matings could produce calves in the top 25% of the breed, the bottom 25% of the breed and the middle 50% of the breed for each trait.

To use this tool, log into your AGA Online Registry Service account. Under the red ‘My Account’ tab drop down to the red ‘Tools’ tab.

Next in the menu is the red ‘Prog Calc’ tab. This tab gives the member two options, ‘Bull’ or ‘Female’, to separate out which animals the member wants to compare. For example, if thinking about buying a new herd bull this sale season or using a new AI sire, go to the ‘Bull’ option and see how he matches up to each of the operation’s cows. If thinking about buying a new donor and flushing her to something in the account’s quick sire list, select the ‘Female’ option to see how she compares to the bulls in your semen tank. Both options provide the opportunity to enter in two separate animals, two bulls or two females.

For this example, we are going to focus on using a new sire on our herd (below). After going into the ‘Bull’ tab, it brings up the opportunity to enter the bulls’ registration numbers in the top corners of the page, either from the “View List” option, or place one registration number where it says ‘Bull Registration #1’ and the other registration number

across the page in the same spot for ‘Bull Registration #2’. As a reminder, use the full AMGV registration number. Click the button where it says “Retrieve this Bull’s information” on each bull. The bulls EPDs will show up. The next step is to select cows.

Cows are listed in a chart below. Select the cows by clicking the box where it says “Calculate this cow” (left). The next step is to get that data! There is a button that says “Calculate Progeny EPDs based on these bulls.” The data will then appear line by line along with a chart to provide a better visual. Using the key at the top can be helpful to better understand the data. Users can also download the results into a spreadsheet or a PDF, which allows the member to save the work on the current matings and move on to the next.

We encourage you to take advantage of the tools that are available to each member in the AGA. If you have any questions, please call the AGA at 303-465-2333. We are always happy to help! Let’s keep moving forward! D

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Hurry! Complete Your Herd Assessments Today

Completing annual herd assessments is an important part of being an AGA member. Although the deadline for annual herd assessments has passed, assessments still need to be completed in order for the herd to be in good standing with the Association. All females 13 months of age and older should either be assessed or disposed of as part of the total herd reporting process. One assessment is tied to one registration credit to register the female’s progeny. This credit also allows members to transfer the animal(s) as well as report performance information. Herd assessments received after March 16, 2020, are charged a late penalty according to the following fees schedule: 1-30 days = 5 percent late penalty 31-60 days = 10 percent late penalty 60+ days = 15 percent late penalty If you have not already completed your 2020 herd assessment, you are encouraged to do so via the AGA Online Registry Service. Please contact the AGA office at 303-465-2333 if you need any assistance in completing this process.

DNA Test Herd Sires

Don’t forget to collect a DNA sample on walking sires that don’t already have a minimum of a GGP-LD test result on file with the AGA in order to register progeny. The best time to collect samples is ahead of bull turnout for breeding. GPP-LD (or GPP-HD) testing must be completed through the AGA Online Registry Service and submitted to the Neogen lab in order to meet this requirement. DNA samples collected with a tissue sampling unit (TSU) are the preferred method of DNA sample collection per recommendation of Neogen. This preference is due to the sample type’s low failure rate, the speed of which a sample can be collected chute-side and ease and speed of handling at the lab. However, the lab still accepts blood and hair card samples.

To order TSUs, TSU applicator, blood cards, or hair cards, please call the AGA office at 303-465-2333 or email registry@gelbvieh.org.

New: DNA Results Emailed

The AGA is excited to announce the new automated system that emails members when their DNA results have been completed. Anytime DNA results are uploaded, the member will receive an email notification informing them that results are uploaded, what animals were tested, and results of each test, including parent verification and exclusions if specified on the order. This email will also include any samples that may have failed. Please note: An automated email will only be generated if DNA tests are properly ordered through the AGA Online Registry Service and if the account has a current email address on file.

To make sure AGA has your current email address on file, log into the AGA Online Registry Service and click on the “Contacts” tab on the General Profile Information screen. If you would like to update or change an email, or any other contact information, simply click the small notepad and pen icon to the left under the options column or call the AGA office at 303-465-2333.

For assistance in marketing or purchasing Gelbvieh, Balancer® or Southern Balancer® bulls, females, and feeder cattle, contact:

Tom Strahm Commercial Marketing Director tom@gelbvieh.org (785) 547-7999 (C)

Will Fiske Breed Growth Specialist will@gelbvieh.org (303) 465-2333 (ex. 484)

Transferring Animals

When transferring animals to their new owner it is important that the animal(s) ends up in the appropriate account on the AGA Online Registry Service. If you are unsure whether a buyer has an AGA number, simply click the blank box next the buyer field. This will pull up a separate window to enter the buyer’s zip code and then click “Find Profiles”. Review the list of members and non-members and once the correct account is found, check the box to the left of the member number. If the buyer does not already have a profile within the registry, click “Click to create new profile” at the very bottom of the page.

DNA Sample Cards

To order DNA testing supplies such as TSU vials, applicators, blood or hair cards, contact the AGA office at 303-465-2333 or email registry@gelbvieh.org.

Please note that DNA sample cards or TSU vials and applicators cannot be returned for a refund to the membership account.

Gelbvieh Departure

Max Porter passed away on Monday, March 02, 2020. Max Porter was a resident of Stevensville, Montana, at the time of passing. Max and his wife, Debby, were past members of the AGA under the ranch name M Heart D Gelbvieh.

New Members

The AGA would like to welcome the following new members to the Gelbvieh Associations in February 2020. AGA Meadowbrook Farms, New Madison, Ohio Sunshine Gelbviehs, Lebanon, Tenn. Jeff King, Wyoming, Ill. 4C Sons Inc., Fairview, Mont. The Ridge at Loafer’s Glory, Liberty Hill, Texas MDM Angus, Florence, Mo. Hundredfold Farm, Cookeville, Tenn. AGJA Skylar Appleby, Conway, Mo. Jake Liston, Ponca City, Okla. Laci Matthews, Clarksville, Tenn.

Production Schedule Gelbvieh World and The Profit Picture

January Gelbvieh World Annual Convention/Breeding Reference Guide Ad deadline: December 2 February Profit Picture Commercial Issue Ad deadline: December 27 March Gelbvieh World National Western Stock Show Ad deadline: February 4 April Gelbvieh World Nutrition/AI Sires Ad deadline: March 4

May Gelbvieh World Herd Health/Nutrition & Feeding Ad deadline: April 3 June-July Gelbvieh World Herd Reference Edition Ad deadline: May 29 August Gelbvieh World Junior Programs Ad deadline: July 14 September Profit Picture Commercial Issue Ad deadline: August 3 October Gelbvieh World Convention Preview Ad deadline: September 4

November Gelbvieh World The Gelbvieh Cow Ad deadline: October 2 December Gelbvieh World Seedstock Marketing Ad deadline: November 4

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