The American Hereford Association is dedicated to continually building a powerful genetic evaluation and providing additional reliability to traits of interest for Hereford breeders and their customers.


Effective Monday, Oct. 2, 2017, the AHA offers a new, lower pricing structure for DNA testing. Any animal tested from Oct. 2, 2017, and on will have a genomic profile completed, in addition to the abnormalities and available parentage already included with the DNA testing.


“Currently, the AHA houses nearly 50,000 genotypes on Hereford cattle, which have been instrumental to build a much stronger genetic evaluation,” says Jack Ward, AHA executive vice president. “As we move towards BOLT, this will become even more useful as we will be able to verify pedigrees as they enter the evaluation.”


DNA TESTS AVAILABLE:

Genomic Profile (parentage profile, genetic abnormalities & GE-EPDs): $38

Full Package (Genomic profile plus horned/polled test): $58

Add on Horned/Polled Test (adding this test after the original profile has been done): $30

GE-EPD Upgrade from basic profile (animals previously tested after 1/1/2015 for basic profile only can be upgraded to GE-EPD profile, upgrade request must be made by April 1, 2018): $20

If the requesting breeder is a compliant Whole Herd Total Performance Record (TPR™) breeder, those animals will receive genomic-enhanced expected progeny differences (GE-EPDs).


In addition to these new DNA prices, AHA will also be offering members a $4 credit, per animal, on their AHA account when using the new Tissue Sample Unit (TSU) to submit a DNA sample, rather than using hair. The credit will occur when the animal’s DNA results are received from the lab, verifying the DNA sample was submitted as a TSU. A TSU order form may be downloaded from the following link: hereford.org/genetics/dna-testing/.


If the tag options offered by the AHA, don’t meet your needs, feel free to place your order directly with Allflex or order your TSU’s from any other supplier, just make sure they are manufactured by Allflex.