Commercial Programs

The American Hereford Association (AHA) is committed to growing demand for Hereford genetics and providing breeders tools backed by uncompromised data and sound research that drive profit. Additionally, the AHA has long been dedicated to offering its members the most robust genetic evaluation possible. Developing tools to provide commercial cattlemen with information to advance their programs through heterosis is a major focus of the AHA.

The Hereford Advantage, Premium Red Baldy and Maternal Advantage programs are resources developed to assist commercial cattlemen with incorporating Hereford genetics into their programs more successfully and adding value to their operations. For more information regarding any commercial programs, contact Trey Befort, AHA director of commercial programs, at tbefort@herefordbeef.org.

Hereford Advantage Program

Designed to identify superior Herefordinfluenced feeder cattle, the Hereford Advantage program includes components geared to add value to feeder cattle, including genetic merit, health and management practice verification. Components of the program are backed by documented market price advantages, giving producers a great opportunity to improve value. This tagging program is offered in conjunction with IMI Global, an industry-leading source for thirdparty verification of food production practices in North America.

Requirements include:

• Source and age (required

IMI base verification) • Genetic merit › Minimum of 50% Hereford genetics › Bull battery ranking in top 50% of breed for Certified Hereford Beef Index (CHB$)* profit index (bull battery average) › Bull ownership transferred (all bulls) • Vaccination program — two rounds of preweaning vaccinations (minimum) • BQA certification and complete the enrollment form and submit it to IMI Global. Program cost is $3 per head (no minimum enrollment required), which includes verification and program electronic identification tag costs. During the enrollment process, an expected progeny difference and profit index summary for the submitted bull battery will be developed and provided to producers, allowing them to track genetic merit for future selection decisions. Participating producers will also receive additional marketing support and exposure through this program. Qualifying cattle will be listed on the AHA’s “Feeder Cattle Listings” page, HerefordMarketplace.com, and cattle information will be communicated to a growing list of interested feeder cattle buyers. * The CHB$ is a terminal sire index that is built on a production system where Hereford bulls are used on

British-cross cows with a focus on gain and end-product merit.

Premium Red Baldy Program

Premium Red Baldy is a tagging program designed to take advantage of hybrid vigor by maximizing the best traits of both Hereford and Red Angus breeds and providing commercial producers with premium replacement females. The program has the ideal balance of maternal and carcass traits, which will yield cattle poised to increase the profitability of the commercial producer. Premium Red Baldy uses genetics supported by the only two beef breed associations backed by whole herd reporting.

Producers interested in verifying their bull battery should call their respective breed representative to complete the verification process and to order Allflex tags for $0.99 each. Interested producers will contact Trey Befort, AHA director of commercial programs, at tbefort@ herefordbeef.org or Chessie Mitchell, Red Angus Association of America tag program coordinator, at chessie@ redangus.org. Registration numbers for Hereford or Red Angus sires must be provided to start the enrollment process.

Upon completion of a short phone interview, tags will be shipped to the producer for qualifying females. Only enough tags to match the number of red-bodied and white- or brockle-faced females born on the operation will be issued. Added market exposure will be given to participating groups with cattle being listed on HerefordMarketplace.com.

Qualifications include:

• Female-only program — No steers will be tagged in this non-PVP tagging program. • Females must be sired by a bull battery ranking in the top 50% of the breed for Baldy

Maternal Index (BMI$) or

Profitability and Sustainability

Index (ProS). Registration must also be transferred to the participating producer. • Breed type must be predominately

Red Angus and Hereford genetics, with a small allowance for other breeds. • Females must be red-bodied with either a bald or brockle face.

Maternal Advantage Program

This female-focused marketing tool is designed to take advantage of hybrid vigor by capitalizing on Hereford genetics. The program generates females with added longevity, more docility, increased fertility and more profit per year. Producers using Hereford bulls on British-based or Brahman-based females in their breeding program can utilize this program.

Participating groups will be listed on HerefordMarketplace.com for added market exposure.

Director of commercial programs:

Trey Befort, tbefort@herefordbeef.org HerefordAdvantage.com PremiumRedBaldy.org HerefordMarketplace.com Facebook – @HerefordMarketplace

AHA commercial programs overview

Program Program logo Index used

Hereford Advantage

Premium Red Baldy CHB$

BMI$ or ProS (Red Angus)

Maternal Advantage BMI$ or BII$