CALF_News_June_July_2018

30 CALF News • June | July 2018 • www.calfnews.net T he American Hereford Association (AHA) and Red Angus Association of America (RAAA) partnered up with a new program and shared space during the NCBA Convention in Phoenix in late January. Early in the week, the AHA hosted a press confer- ence highlighting “The Bald-Faced Truth About Hereford Genetics.” AHA Executive Vice President Jack Ward, Director of Breed Improvement Shane Bedwell and Certified Hereford Beef Operating Officer Amari Seiferman headlined the event. Each reported on new developments within their departments and responded to questions. Youth Heavy emphasis is being placed on commitment to the com- mercial cattle industry. Starting with the AHA’s junior pro- gram, young members now have the opportunity to participate in fed-steer challenges, engaging youth outside the show ring and drawing them into the realm of real numbers and data- driven accomplishment. Two such steer tests are planned for 2018. Engaging youth encourages them to remain in the beef cattle industry and become lifelong members of the AHA. The AHA staff is encouraging members to become involved in NCBA, the Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) and any other outside organization providing educational opportuni- ties and valuable networking potential. It’s a goal of the AHA to push young members beyond perceived limits into new areas of opportunity. These lie richly in the commercial sector, and often outside traditional AHA activities. New technology AHA rolled out a new expected progeny difference (EPD) system in December 2017, using Biometric Open Language Tools (BOLT) genetic evaluation software. There are currently over 55,000 Hereford genotypes on record, increasing Hereford EPDs’ accuracy and strengthening data submitted inWhole Herd Total Performance Records (TPR). Genetic evaluations are now updated weekly, a phenomenon unheard of only a few years ago. Bedwell explained that GeneSeek® and Neogen companies are deeply involved in DNA testing, with parent verification, abnormality testing and genomic enhancement tools available. AHA is encouraging an acceleration of genotyping. Two new traits have been added to the Hereford Economic Index – Sustained Cow Fertility (SCF) and Dry Matter Intake (DMI). Commercial production highlighted The breed’s sire data is becoming more accurate due to coop- eration from three large commercial cow programs. Contribut- ing data generated from birth through harvest, the numbers are processed through the National Reference Sire Program (NRSP) and benefit the entire breed. Heterosis gained by using Hereford bulls on Angus cows is, not surprisingly, being found to add $51 per head to feeder calves and contributes to a 7-percent-higher fertility rate in females sired by Hereford bulls, as opposed to straightbred commercial Angus. Efforts are being made to double the numbers of test cattle enrolled in the NRSP. Certified Hereford Beef ® Seiferman took the podium with good news of 10 consecu- tive years of growth for Certified Hereford Beef (CHB). Now being marketed internationally, she explained that there’s a competitive advantage to breed-specific differentiation. CHB By Patti Wilson Contributing Editor Hereford, Red Angus Associations Share Spotlight at NCBA Convention