Strong artificial insemination (AI) programs are the ticket to remain competitive in a challenging and growing commercial and seedstock marketplace. The American Hereford Association’s (AHA) annual AI Source Book spotlights up-and-coming genetics in the breed and showcases top Hereford sires to the beef cattle industry.

A powerful marketing tool, the AI Source Book gives producers access to proven sires to improve traits of economic importance and provides added exposure of an operation’s genetics. This special publication is a ride-along piece with the March Hereford World and travels with AHA field staff to industry trade shows and events. It is available year-round on Hereford.org as a Herefords On Demand catalog, with PDF and flip versions available.

Access the 2020 online versions below:

• Herefords On Demand: Hereford.org/marketing/hereford-sales/production-catalogs/production-catalogs-detail/?catalog_id=36656
• PDF: Hereford.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/AIbook20.pdf
• Flip catalog: Issuu.com/buyhereford/docs/aibook20

How to advertise

Contact Alison Marx, AHA advertising coordinator, or your regional AHA field representative to reserve your space and to learn more. All materials must be submitted to Hereford Publications Inc. by Jan. 25.

Full and half-pages are available and follow a standard template. Please provide the following information for your featured sire(s):

• Photo of sire
• Support photo(s) for sire — typically sire/dam/progeny
• Footnote(s)
• Semen/certificate cost
• Logo(s) of owner(s)
• Contact information for owner(s)

AI permits

Every sire in the AI Source Book must be AI-permitted. In order to be AI-permitted, sires must have DNA tests including parent verification and all five defects — including Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD) and Mandibulofacial Dysostosis (MD) — on file. Visit MyHerd or contact Customer Service to get your bull AI-permitted.

New rule: Beginning Sept. 1, 2020, all AI-permitted sires are required to be tested for all known genetic abnormalities in addition to the established parent-verification requirement. Bulls which have been AI-permitted prior to Sept. 1 will be grandfathered into the rule change, so the new rule will only applies to bulls that become AI-permitted after Sept. 1.

Non-certificate AI program

Owners can enter a sire into the Non-Certificate AI program, which allows offspring of a sire to be registered without an AI certificate. The sire is required to have an AI permit issued before he is eligible for the Non-certificate AI program.

To enroll, fill out this form: Hereford.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Non-Certificate-AI-Sire-Program-Agreement.pdf
The form must be filled out and signed by ALL current owners of the bull.

Keep in mind

Remember, new DNA samples take three to four weeks for processing from the time samples are received at the lab to the time the results are received at AHA. Allow up to two additional weeks of processing for genomic-enhanced expected progeny differences (GE-EPDs). MD add-on tests take four to six weeks to complete to have results sent to the AHA. Please contact AHA customer service at 816-842-3757 or aha@hereford.org for more information.