Mark your calendars! The

2013 AAA AGM & Hall of Fame Gala and Awards will take place on

August 13, 2013 at the Bashaw Agricultural Society in conjunction with the Alberta Junior Angus Show.  

Frequently Asked Questions about Changes to the Parentage Verification Policy

 

Do I have to DNA test all of the dams in my herd?

No, you only need to parentage test those dams that produce bull calves born on or after January 1, 2015 that will go on to sire registered Angus calves. The policy change will affect less than 2,000 females annually. However, a lot of our members are taking advantage of the $5 Female Permanent Genotyping project or the $12 SNP parentage verification offer to genotype their entire cow herd.

 

 

What's the difference between the $5 Female Permanent Genotyping project and the $12 SNP parentage verification offer?

The Female Permanent Genotyping project ($5 per test) will read the DNA for producing females and create a reference point to allow parentage verification of their future bull calves.

 

The SNP parentage verification test ($12 per test) reads the DNA for producing females and places them on file so that their bull calves can be verified to them in the future AND it also uses the dam's genotype to verify her to her dam and sire. SNP parentage verification testing is available at $12 per test until March 31st, 2014.

 

 

If I want to register my bull calves now, do I have to DNA test all my dams first?

No, the parentage verification policy applies to bull calves born on or after January 1st, 2015. Any bull calf born on or after that date that will go on to sire registered Angus calves will need to be parentage verified to both his sire and his dam.

 

 

What if I buy a bull to sire registered Angus calves and he is not parentage verified?

Currently, a bull calf needs to be sire verified in order for the CAA to register his progeny. In cases where members apply to register calves from a sire that is not sire verified, the Association works with the member to get the sire verification.

 

The policy change means that all sires born on or after January 1st, 2015, including those approved for AI use, must have a DNA parentage genotype on record with the CAA and be parent verified before their offspring can be registered. If you buy a sire that is not parent verified the Association will work with you to get the parent verification.

 

If either parent is lost before a DNA sample can be taken, the Association will work with our members on a case-by-case basis to find a resolution.

 

The implementation date for the policy change was set to allow our members more than two years to prepare. The Association has several initiatives to help our members prepare for this policy change.

 

 

What's the best way to prepare for the changes to the Parentage Verification Policy?

Pull hair samples (30-60 hairs including the hair root bulbs) on any dams that may produce bull calves born on or after January 1, 2015 that will go on to sire registered Angus calves.

 

Place each dam's hair sample in a clean, well-labelled envelope.

 

The hair samples can be stored at the CAA office or at your home until a parentage test is required.

 

For members who prefer to verify their female's parentage and have their reference genotype on file so future calves can be verified, we are offering the following tests at reduced rates:

1. Female Permanent Genotype for $5 per test (for the first 15,000 kits ordered and submitted to the lab before December 1st, 2013)
2. SNP parentage verification for $12 per test ('2-for-1' pricing through March 31, 2014)

If you have anything that you would like discussed at the Can-Prov Meeting happening in June, please forward it to Denise.

Chosen for her marketing strategies and outgoing personality, Karla Ness grew up in rural Alberta participating in the 4-H beef project and raising Angus cattle starting at a young age. She is currently at Mount Royal University seeking a Bachelors of Communications - Public Relations. Watch for Ness to be located in Saskatchewan this summer. She is sure to add value to the CAA.

 

 

 

This year, the CAA was able to hire a third intern in Ontario. Because of the need to market the junior Angus program, Matthew Bates was hired and will devote much of his time within the province. Majoring at the University of Guelph in Animal Science, Bates will also help prepare and conduct the Canadian Angus National Convention June 6-9 in Guelph, Ontario. He, too, grew up with Angus cattle and excels in experience within the industry and passion for the breed.