Member Services Bulletin by Halla Pfeiff - October 2021

Member Services Bulletin by Halla Pfeiff, Director of Office Operations

In August, the Fall No Progeny was requested to be reviewed and the cows on the list NEED- ED to be reported on because no record was on file for the Fall 2020 calf crop. For those females on the list, here are the few questions to ask regarding next steps.

• Did she have a calf? If yes, report all the calf data – even if the calf was born dead or died shortly after birth.

• Was she open? If yes, report the proper reason code.

• Was she culled? If yes, report the proper disposal code.

One of the above data points should be reported ASAP before the inactivations occur. This deadline is critical for data reporting. If the deadline is missed and the cow becomes inactivated, you will have to report one of the above data points and pay a fee to reactivate her. To bring an inactivated cow back on inventory within six months is $25. If she has been inactive for greater than six months, the fee is $50.

Weaning Data for Spring Calving Season Requested Phenotypic data obviously has an important influence on all future decisions, such as being culled or kept, production sale order, mating decisions and so much more. So, the step of weaning has already been completed this fall or will be happening soon. To make sure the data is used properly in the future, it must be reported to the association with proper weights, dates and contemporary groupings.

We know this can be a time-consuming process, but the sooner it can be started, the faster some of the decision factors can come together. I know that’s easier said than done, but if you need help at any point along the way, please let us know your questions.

Fall Inventory Inactivations Occur Late-October

New Member Orientation Over the past year, we have gained several new members. As these new members get their feet wet being a part of an association that requires mandatory Total Herd Reporting, we understand the deadlines and steps can be overpowering at times. To help with understanding the course of activity and data asked of the member, we offer a quarterly new member orientation. This is roughly an hour during lunch.

The topics covered start with reviewing the mission and vision statement, core policies and board of directors. Then it transitions into definitions and explanations of each phase of Total Herd Reporting.

The orientation finishes with a review of resources and tools available to each member, such as the marketing team and their services, advertising opportunities and junior activities. Join us on Nov. 17 at 11 a.m. MST via this webinar link. https://meetings.ringcentral.com/j/1485304728 or Dial in +1 (773) 2319226 Meeting ID: 148 530 4728

New Member Orientation covers topics important to all members, not just those who have recently joined RAAA.

Note, this is open to all members – not just new members. We hope you will join us! •