Accuracy is Everything

New DNA-based initiatives position Hereford for ongoing success.

By Shane Bedwell

It’s s simply amazing how far technology has come and what we can measure and track in terms of the potential genetic merit of Hereford cattle. From weighing cattle to ultrasound and DNA, we have the opportunity to gain a tremendous amount of accuracy on young, non-parent animals.

Although often taken for granted, building genetic prediction accuracy starts with ensuring the pedigree is accurate. DNA enables genomic-enhanced expected progeny differences (GE-EPDs), but it also offers the significant advantage of verifying parentage. Correct parentage is the basis for any accurate EPD calculation. It might surprise you to know that 8-10% of the animals submitted for registration to the American Hereford Association (AHA) each week do not qualify to one or both of their parents. These are unintentional mistakes, and many do come from multi-sire pastures, but it underscores the ongoing need to collect DNA.

The AHA implemented the AI sire rule many years ago, which requires a genomic profile and parent verification for a bull to be AI-permitted. Since September 2020, these sires must also be tested for all known genetic abnormalities.

Moreover, the AHA implemented the walking sire and donor dam permit rules in 2011, which require a genomic profile and parentage verification checked where available. These all have been important breed improvement initiatives that have strengthened the genetic evaluation.

This last spring, AHA president, Wyatt Agar, was charged by the AHA Board of Directors to assemble a task force to review all aspects of the organization’s use of DNA, from current rules to the genetic abnormality policy and the future of sample storage. Task force members included Mark Cooper, Mark Squires, Dave Bielema, Charlie Boyd and Sam Shaw. The task force met several times over the summer to discuss current DNA policies and develop recommendations for the AHA Board. You can see the changes adopted by the Board and approved for the AHA herd book in the “Board Highlights” published in the October 2024 issue of Baldy Advantage (Page 78). All of the updates are important, but I want to highlight a couple of them here.

Staying Ahead Of The Curve

Building upon current permit rules, walking sires and donor dams, born on or after Jan. 1, 2026, will be required to not only have a genomic profile but also must be parent verified and tested for all known genetic abnormalities. Essentially AI sires, walking sires and donor dams will have the same requirement going forward. Given the impact that each has on a herd, this makes logical sense and will strengthen the registry and genetic evaluation for years to come.

The task force and AHA Board also spent considerable time reviewing policy regarding the release of genetic abnormality information. The bottom-line sentiment was that more information is better.

Upon the release of a new genetic abnormality, the AHA will publish the affected animals and their parent(s), if available. Additionally, the AHA will publish the genetic abnormality results of all animals involved in research and discovery of a new genetic condition. Along with this, a new rule was added: once a sire achieves 0.80 weaning weight accuracy, the AHA will whole-genome sequence (when DNA is available) these sires. This genomic reference library will be used for research and breed improvement objectives. If available, the results of these sires will be published when a new genetic abnormality is released. Again, this will allow for more data and information to be released upon the announcement of a genetic abnormality release. Strengthening the AHA genomic reference library will also improve the genetic evaluation.

Shane Bedwell is the chief operating officer and director of breed improvement of the American Hereford Association. He can be reached at sbedwell@hereford.org.

Finally, if an AHA member wants to whole-genome sequence any animal they own, whether it’s a donor cow or a young bull, please contact me. This technology has become fairly affordable compared to what it used to be, especially considering the information it provides today and the powerful resource it provides for the future.

I thank the task force and AHA Board for these progressive initiatives, which continue to propel the breed forward. As always, keep them sound. TMHJ

Current NRSP Sires

The American Hereford Association’s National Reference Sire Program (NRSP) is designed to identify and validate the genetic merit of young sires that offer seedstock producers and commercial users opportunities to improve their herds for specific traits and a combination of traits. It also provides ongoing confirmation of the profitability associated with Hereford genetics. These are the NRSP sires (and their registration numbers) currently used at Olsen Ranches, Harrisburg, Neb.

• KCF BENNETT MONUMENT J338 (44320126)

• L III EFBEEF TALL GRASS 2017 (44355900)

• R IDENTITY 6112 (44360793)

• STELLPFLUG GUNSMOKE 222 ET (44400396)

• WHITEHAWK 490H VOLTAGE 242K (44430488)

• SHF LEGION H315 L060 (44442417)

• SHF LOCKE 569G L340 ET (44443184)

• JC L1 STAR DOMINO M8086 206K (44447490)

• SCHU-LAR EFBEEF COMMAND ET (44447592)

• GG MCF VERIFIED MERIT 323L (44450972)

• WALKER FULL CIRCLE 3511ET (44454927)

• CHURCHILL SMOKEY 3128L ET (44462190)

• NJW 79Z 029H VISTA 147L ET (44486345)

• H RICHMOND ET (44491260)

• ASM 405B RED MAN 325L ET (44491851)

• CMF 1720 GOLD RUSH 569G ET (Reference) (44108010)