Help & Tips

AngusNOW Overview – Your Live Registration System

AngusNOW is the live Canadian Angus Association registration system. AngusNOW provides you with the tools to register animals, enter calving data, enter weights, transfer animals and much more from the comfort of your home! With AngusNOW you can receive registration numbers and transfer ownership instantly – no more waiting for your information to be processed.

Please contact your Canadian Angus Association to sign up for this service through email or by calling: 1-888-571-3580. You will be unable to access AngusNOW until the office has set up access for you.

Note: you must have a valid email address to use this service.

Detailed How-To information is available HERE

How to use Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs) 
(Also see Genomic EPD Testing in the Member Services section of the website HERE)

For proper Expected Progeny Differences, the following are required:

• Enrollment in the Performance Program (Click here)
• Submission of weaning weights on all of your animals
• Placing your animals in a (same sex) contemporary group of more than two
• Ensure your animals are within the acceptable age ranges: 120–280 days for weaning weights (WW) and 290–440 days for yearling weights (YW) for all Angus animals

Animals that are in a management group of their own, such as twins, fosters, ET calves and lone bull calves are automatically placed into a single animal contemporary group and will not receive EPDs until they are parents to performance-recorded progeny.

Example:
Imagine you are interested in purchasing a couple of bulls for your herd. You are looking at the EPDs in a sale catalogue. Bull A has a weaning weight EPD of +10 and Bull B has a weaning weight of +60. What does that mean? How can you use the EPDs to choose between the two bulls?

If these animals were randomly mated with 10 similar cows, we would expect the group average weaning weight of Bull A’s offspring to be 50 lbs lighter than that of Bull B’s (60-10=50).

In this example, if you were interested in producing heavier calves, Bull B would be the one to choose.

Example Sire Summary Evaluation

Producer 1 is looking for a sire that can be used on heifers; he wants a bull that will produce low birth weights and he wants to keep some heifer calves as replacements. Growth performance is not his first priority. The sire that fits his needs is sire D. He has a low birth weight EPD and above-average milk EPD.

Producer 2 has a sound breeding program; he is looking for a sire that will maintain performance and milking ability. He will select a bull that will increase growth performance and milk while maintaining calving ease. Sire B is his choice.

Producer 3 has a herd of above-average-frame cows and is not planning on keeping heifers as replacements. She is looking for a bull that will give her the most profit at weaning. Sire A will give her the best result in weaning weight. If heifers are kept as replacements, they will, on average, be inferior for maternal milk.

Producer 4 wants to maintain his calving performance and growth performance but would like to increase the milking ability in his females. Sire C is his choice.

Performance weights are adjusted to a specific age (205 days of age for weaning weights and 365 days age for yearling weights). The weights are also adjusted to factor the dam’s age as it is well documented that the calves’ opportunity to grow is affected by the dams’ age. A 5-year-old cow provides the optimum maternal environment.

To calculate adjusted birth weights, use Tables 1 and 2. First, check how old the dam was when the calf was born. To adjust the calf birth weight, add the appropriate age of dam adjustment factor.

Adjusted Birth Weight = Birth Weight + Age of Dam Adjustment

Table 1
Age of Dam at Calf Birth

Table 2
Dam Adjustment for Birth Weight

Table 3
Age of Dam Adjustment for Weaning Weight

To calculate adjusted weaning weights, first calculate the pre-weaning average daily gain and add the age of dam adjustment using table 3 above. Then adjust the pre-weaning average daily gain for 205 days and add the birth weight.

Pre-Weaning Average Daily Gain = (Weaning Weight – Birth Weight) / Age on Weight Date + (Age of Dam Adjustment / 205)

Adjusted Weaning Weight = Pre-Weaning Average Daily Gain x 205 + Birth Weight

Adjusted yearling weights do not account for age of dam since the calf growth after weaning is independent of the dam. To calculate adjusted yearling weights, first calculate post-weaning average daily gain.

Post-Weaning Average Daily Gain = (Yearling Weight – Weaning Weight) / (Age at Yearling Weight – Age at Weaning)

Adjusted Yearling Weight = Post-Weaning Average Daily Gain x 160 + Adjusted Weaning Weight

Adjusted weights put all weights on the same level so that you can compare animals equally. Ratios give breeders a snapshot of an animal’s performance within its contemporary group. However, care must be taken when comparing animals’ raw or adjusted performance as different environments will affect performance differently.

EPDs remove the environmental effect on performance and predict only the genetic merit of each animal. In-herd comparisons of animals that have been raised in the same environment and have been given the same opportunities to grow can be made using ratios (indexes and rank).

Ratios give you a measurement of how well each animal in the same contemporary group performed in comparison to the group average (which will be 100). Ratios provided for animals enrolled on the Performance Program are:

Weight per Day of Age:

Final Weight / Age

Adjusted Birth Weight Ratio:

(Adjusted Birth Weight / Average Adjusted Birth Weight of Contemporary Group) x 100

Adjusted Weaning Weight Ratio:

(Adjusted WW / Average Adjusted Weaning Weight of Contemporary Group) x 100

Adjusted Yearling Weight Ratio:

(Adjusted YW / Average adjusted Yearling Weight of Contemporary Group) x 100

Lifetime Gain:

[(205 x Adjusted Weaning Weight) + (160 x Adjusted Yearling Weight)] / 365

The Animal Pedigree Act requires that all animals sold as registered be officially transferred by the seller and the registration certificate presented to the purchaser within six months of the date of sale.

Any registered Angus animal that is sold must have its registration certificate transferred to the new owner within six months of the sale as per the Canadian Angus Association bylaws. If the animal is not intended for sale as a registered Angus, its registration certificate should be returned to the Association for cancellation and the seller must note on the bill of sale that the ‘animal was sold as a commercial animal—no paper available’.

The Canadian Angus Association recommends that buyers and sellers of purebred Angus cattle use a bill of sale (see Sample Bill of Sale and clearly note all details of the sale and/or agreements in writing. If a dispute arises and the seller isn’t cooperating with the transfer of the animal, please contact the Association for advice.

COMPLETING A TRANSFER:

• To transfer animals, complete the Application for Transfer of Ownership located on the reverse side of the registration certificate and return it to the Canadian Angus Association with the appropriate fee as per the current fee schedule within six months of the date of sale.
• If a bred female is sold, the service dates and information must be provided on the transfer application. All service sires must be DNA tested and the bull must be AI approved if applicable. If a semen interest is retained on a bull that is being transferred, put both the name of the buyer and your own name on the application for transfer so that both names appear on the registration certificate as current owners.
• All signatures of listed owners must appear on the transfer, unless Signing Authority Agreement for Canadian Angus Association Registered Animals  has been provided. In the case where an entire herd is transferred to a new owner, one application for transfer may be completed if a list of animals to be transferred is attached. The completed transfer form and registration certificates of the listed animals must be forwarded to the Canadian Angus Association with the appropriate fees.

How to Transfer an e-stored Registration Certificate

Send your transfer request to the Member Service Department by mail (Unit 14 – 620 1st AVE NW Airdrie, AB T4B 2R3), or by email.

Please include the following information in your request:

Body of message:

• Identify the animal by the tattoo and registration number
• Identify the buyer by name and address
• Provide a sale date
• If the animal is a bred female, provide the service details including sire identification and exposure dates.

(You may also provide this information on a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and send by email. Your columns should be in the same order as above.)
(You may also use Application for Transfer of Ownership to apply for a transfer.)

The transfer fee is the responsibility of the seller unless otherwise noted on the bill of sale. All signatures of listed owners must appear on the transfer, unless Signing Authority Agreement for Canadian Angus Association Registered Animals has been provided. A Canadian Angus Association membership is NOT required to transfer an animal.

NON-FINANCIAL TRANSFERS:
Non-financial transfers are ownership transfers in which no money changes hands. These transfers are usually between family members, partners, company members or estate settlements. Partnerships and company members must all be recorded with the Canadian Angus Association before a non-financial transfer will be processed at the non-financial transfer fee.

Some common non-financial transfer situations are:
Transfer from an individual to a partnership, or a partnership to an individual.
Addition or deletion of an individual in a partnership or farm name.
Estate transfers to another family member or beneficiary. Estate transfers require either a death certificate, a copy of the will or a letter from the lawyer of the estate, including the name(s) of the executors. The executor will be the signing authority for estate transfers.
Transfers of herd names and tattoo letters can also be included in estate settlements.

Animal Transfers < 90 days after sale: Performance Program Member $16
Animal Transfers < 90 days after sale: non-Performance Program Member $20
Animal Transfers > 90 days after sale: Performance Program Member $32
Animal Transfers > 90 days after sale: non-Performance Program Member $40
Non Financial Transfers (1 – 49 transfers submitted at one time) $10
Non Financial Transfers (50+ submitted at one time) $5
Application for Registration of Lease

PLEASE NOTE: The transfer fee is the responsibility of the seller unless otherwise noted on the bill of sale. Subject: Request to transfer ownership of an e-stored certificate

You can transfer animals online using AngusNOW.

Leasing Animals: What You Should Know

Angus animals may be leased to another party as long as the lessor (the person who owns the animal) completes an Application for Registration of Lease and submits it to the Association to register the lease.
Once the lease is registered with the Canadian Angus Association, the lessee (the person who is leasing the animal from the owner) can register calves sired by the bull or produced by the cows as if (s)he were the actual owner.
If the lease is for a female that has been bred by the owner, the service dates must be provided to the Association at the time the lease is applied for. At the end of the lease period, registration privileges revert back to the recorded owner.

The Application for Registration of Lease supplied by the Association contains only the information required for the Association’s needs. The lease form is not to be construed as a binding agreement between the lessor and the lessee. All lease periods must include a beginning and an ending date; no open-ended leases will be accepted. Should the lessor and the lessee agree to extend the lease, we require updated documents with the new end date.

For more information on leasing, please see Section C, Article 4—Leases of the Constitution.

Tattooing Procedure

Tattoo Letters

To register Angus cattle in Canada, you must apply for and secure the right to use a set of unique tattoo letters. Tattoo letters are a combination of two, three or four letters that are registered for a member's exclusive use. They need only be applied for once and stay with the member as long as (s)he is an active member of the Association. If tattoo letters have not been used for seven years they may be reassigned. Tattoo letters may also be transferred, for example from parents to children. Download Application for Tattoo Letters and Herd Name.

Herd Name

It is mandatory for members to use a herd name as a prefix when naming registered cattle. Herd names are used as either a prefix or suffix in naming registered cattle to identify the owner at birth. Selecting a herd name and registering it with the Association ensures that only you can use it in naming your cattle. Your herd name does not have to be the same as your membership name. Download Application for Tattoo Letters and Herd Name.

The Canadian Angus Association requires every animal to be permanently identified before it is weaned and before it is 8 months of age in order to be eligible for registration. Tattooing can be done at any time before registration is applied for but we recommend that animals are tattooed as young as possible as tattoos grow with calves making the tattoo increasingly legible over time.

Step-by-step Tattooing Process:

1. Ensure that you have the necessary equipment and that it is all in working order.
The necessary equipment includes:
• A set of Canadian Standards Association (CSA)-approved tattoo pliers
• Adequate numeric and letter tattoo digits
• Fresh green tattoo paste and toothbrush for application
• Disinfectant and a soft cloth
• A good working chute to restrain the animal
• Record book

2. Sterilize the tattoo equipment with disinfectant so you don’t spread viruses or diseases from one animal to another.

3. The animal needs to be properly restrained and unable to move its head if the tattoo is to be legible.

4. Be sure the ear is completely clean and free of wax and dirt which prevent the tattoo paste from penetrating the skin. Clean the ear with a soft cloth and allow it to dry.

5. While the ear is drying, determine the appropriate tattoo for the calf. Check each tattoo on a piece of cardboard before applying it to the animal’s ear. Check for even perforations and replace characters that are dull or broken.

A complete tattoo consists of:

• Herd letters (the unique 2–4 letters you applied for and approved by the Association)
• Herd number (any 1–4 digit number, unique within the herd. An effective method of choosing this number is to assign the first calf born in a specific calendar year with a number 1, the second with the number 2, etc.)
• Year letter (see chart here) 

6. Liberally apply fresh tattoo ink to the letters and/or digits using a toothbrush.

7. Apply the tattoo between the ribs or cords of the RIGHT EAR. (To determine right and left, stand behind the animal facing the direction the animal is facing.)

8. Close the jaws quickly and firmly then release quickly to avoid tearing the punctures. Use enough pressure to pierce the skin but do not use so much pressure that the ear bleeds excessively.

9. Use a generous amount of fresh tattoo paste, rubbing it into the holes made by the pliers. Use the toothbrush to thoroughly work the paste into the tattoo.

10. Record the tattoo and other relevant information in your record book.

11. Clean the tattoo characters with a wire brush to remove hair, dirt and excess ink.
(It is important to get the ink well below the surface of the ear so that the skin will heal over it, leaving a clear, permanent tattoo. A properly administered tattoo will be legible for the entire life of the animal).

*A video showing the step-by-step procedures on how to properly tattoo an Angus animal according to the official regulations of the Canadian Angus Association can be viewed HERE.

Tattooing Imported Animals

Imported cattle with tattoos from their country of origin will be assigned an administrative Canadian Angus Association tattoo for the purpose of unique identification within Canada. It will be preceded with IMP to indicate that the animal is imported. This tattoo is NOT required to be tattooed into the animal’s ear; it is for administrative purposes. The physical right ear and/or left ear tattoo will also be noted on the Canadian Angus registration certificate.

Re-tattooing

Breeders should check tattoos regularly, whenever an animal is in the chute. If at any time a tattoo mark ceases to be legible or there is a discrepancy, contact the Canadian Angus Association for advice. Once you have been advised on a course of action regarding the placement of another tattoo, submit Application to Alter an Animal’s Name/Tattoo/Pedigree (CAAFORM10) to the Canadian Angus Association along with the affected registration certificate so a replacement can be provided.

If an animal is marked with the same herd number as another animal born in the same year within that herd, the number “0” must be tattooed beside the number in the right ear of one of the animals to differentiate them.

If the wrong year letter is used to mark an animal, the correct year letter must be tattooed beside the incorrect letter and a full description of the mark must be reported on the application for registration (Herd Inventory and Application for Registration (CAAFORM11)).

Forms for tattooing:

Application for Tattoo Letters and Herd Name

Application to Transfer Tattoo Letters and/or Herd Name

Application to Change Tattoo Letters and/or Herd Name

Application to Alter an Animal’s Name/Tattoo/Pedigree

A complete tattoo consists of:

• Herd letters (the unique 2–4 letters you applied for and approved by the Association)
• Herd number (any 1–4 digit number, unique within the herd. An effective method of choosing this number is to assign the first calf born in a specific calendar year with a number 1, the second with the number 2, etc.)
• Year letter (see chart here) 

Hair Sample Instructions
French Version

DNA Submission Blood Card $2.50/10 pack

Blood Card Sample Instructions PDF
French Version

Ultrasound Scanning Procedures Process and How-to Guide

1. CUP Schedule for Submitting Ultrasound Data

CUP LAB

The CUP Lab™,
LLC2610 Northridge Parkway
Suite 105
Ames, IA 50010
Phone: (515)232-9442
Fax: (515)232-9578
www.cuplab.com

2. Herd Inventory and Application for Registration worksheet submitted to Canadian Angus Association (Must be a member).

3. 205 day worksheet generated and sent to member.

4. Completed 205 day worksheet submitted to Canadian Angus Association for genetic evaluations. (205 day weights must be sent to the Canadian Angus Association office prior to ultrasound scanning).

o Ultrasound worksheets (barn worksheets) can be mailed with the 365 day worksheets. (Must be a member.)

o Animals not listed on the barn worksheets may be filled in by hand using the tattoo of the scanned calf. (Let your technician know if the animal was missing from the barn worksheet). Barn worksheets are to be given to the technician on the day of scanning.

• Member receives a weaning report
• Member receives ultrasound barn worksheets
• Member receives 365 day weight worksheet 
• Determine age at scanning: Bulls: 320–440 days; Heifers: 320–460 days

5. Schedule a scan date with ultrasound technician. (Schedule an appointment with an approved certified technician at least one month in advance. The fee for scanning is set by the technician. It is recommended that smaller herds in close proximity coordinate their scanning times to reduce per head costs).

TECHNICIANS

Doug Ralph
Windy Ridge Ultrasound
Box 364
Raymond, AB T0K 2S0 Phone: (403) 752-3751
Fax: (403) 752-4020
Cell: (403) 315-4799
http://www.cattleultrasound.ca

Rod Wendorff
Windy Ridge Ultrasound
Box 1023
Raymond, AB T0K 2S0 Phone: (403) 330-3000
Fax: (403) 752-4066
http://www.cattleultrasound.ca

Jasper Munro
Elora, ON Phone: (519) 385-0360

Jamie Jensen-Whitney
Maple Creek, SK Phone: (306) 662-4420

Shari Leachman
Maidstone, SK Phone: (306) 903-7289

6. Prepare for ultrasound scan: (Determine management/contemporary groups. (Weigh all cattle the same day as the ultrasound scan. The scan weight should be collected when the animal is empty. Breeder responsibilities include providing the technician with adequate conditions for scanning in order to prevent rejected images. Cattle must be dry in the region of scanning and out of direct or bright sunlight to allow for the images to be seen clearly on the monitor. Supplemental heat must be provided in cold weather for the equipment and oil. A squeeze chute with side panel doors to allow access to the region of scanning is needed. Also, a safe electrical supply with a grounded 110-volt outlet is required).

7. Ultrasound technician collects images. (Images are interpreted by certified lab technicians at the ultrasound processing lab. Data is interpreted by one technician and then cross-checked by another, ensuring a high level of accuracy. If two lab technicians agree that an image does not meet image quality standards then that image is rejected, which may mean the animal does not receive data for that particular trait. Image quality often depends on optimum scanning conditions, outlined in the table below).

8. Images, barn worksheets, payment sent to the lab (After the herd is scanned, the ultrasound images, the technicians COR Form and the barn worksheet are sent to a certified lab, either by overnight courier (must pass through customs) or by FTP upload for those with access to high speed internet (faster delivery)).

9. Lab reports the interpreted data to Canadian Angus Association (Interpreted data is then sent electronically to the Canadian Angus Association office. Staff will contact the breeder if further information is needed (for example, an incorrect tattoo or a missing 205 day weight). We create an ultrasound report, with ultrasound measurements adjusted to a common 365 days of age for bulls and 390 days for heifers. Lean meat yield is calculated and the cattle are ranked within their contemporary groups).

10. Canadian Angus Association returns ultrasound report to member. (The ultrasound report is posted on the download area of the website for members or mailed to the breeder).

11. Ultrasound data used in bi-annual genetic evaluations. (EPDs are calculated monthly during the genetic evaluation. If both parents of the scanned animal have an ultrasound EPD, then the calf can immediately receive an ultrasound pedigree estimate.

Scanning Guidelines

Yearling Bulls
Diet: Bulls should be placed on a high-energy ration (3 lbs/day gain) after weaning so that differences among bulls for fat thickness and marbling traits are expressed.
Age: Bulls must be between 320 and 440 days of age at time of scanning. Try to schedule the ultrasound scan on bulls at or near the end of the bull test.

Yearling Replacement Heifers
Diet: Use a normal heifer development program, preferably with a moderate to high-energy ration, in order to allow heifers to express their genetic potential for fat thickness and percentage intramuscular fat.

Age: Heifers must be between 320 and 460 days of age at time of scanning. It is suggested that heifers be scanned prior to breeding, closer to the 460 day age window.

Management/Contemporary Groups
A contemporary group of cattle is exposed to the same environmental conditions. They have been managed the same, in the same environment. A contemporary group has a minimum of two calves of the same sex and similar age managed the same way. If cattle are treated differently, for example different feeding or one was sick, they must be separated.

Once separated into different management groups they will not be ranked together again. Cattle within a contemporary group must be scanned on the same day or over no more than two consecutive days. Purchased calves have grown in a different environment, so they will be in a separate contemporary group and ranked separately from home-raised calves. Setting proper management groups is a key responsibility of breeders to provide accurate and predictable performance records.

Importance of a 205 day weight: a 205 day weight on record at the Canadian Angus Association office is needed in order to calculate the adjusted weights and lean meat yield for the animal. You must send 205 day weights to obtain your barn worksheet.

Ultrasound FAQs

Q: How old must animals be to be scanned?

A: Bulls: between 320–440 days of age (yearlings); Heifers: between 320–460 days of age (yearlings).

Q: If I ultrasound a calf whose parents have no carcass EPDs, will they get carcass EPDs on the next sire summary?

A: It is no different than the rules for the other EPDs. The ultrasounded calf will get an EPD on the next evaluation, provided that it has a 205 day weight recorded, and is not an ET calf or a single. The parents will also get EPDs for REA, %IMF and Fat based on the EPD of their progeny, although the accuracy is lower than if they had their own data. The genetic evaluation uses a full animal model, meaning that all pedigree information is weighted within the calculations.

Q: What are the benefits of using ultrasound in my herd?

A: Ultrasound allows you to select for improved carcass traits and better predict the genetic merit of breeding stock.

Q: What is measured?

A: Rump fat, Rib fat, Ribeye Area and Intramuscular Fat (%IMF).

Q: Some of the animals on my ultrasound report are missing actual data. Why?

A: Some images will not make it through the interpretation process at the lab for the following reasons:

1) Missing Image: The technician could have neglected to save an image, the animal could have escaped the chute, or it could be due to equipment difficulties.

2) Image Quality: Each image must have certain landmarks to show that the image has been properly collected. If landmarks are missing or not correctly represented, the image cannot be interpreted. Rejection could be caused by the animal moving and blurring the image, poor contact due to insufficient prepping of the animal, or improper equipment calibration.

3) Narrow Image: only occurs with %IMF when the loin is not deep enough. The interpreting software has a 4.25 cm box that must fit between the 12th and 13th ribs, between the external fat and the top of the ribs on the image. Narrow images are most common on lighter muscled cattle and heifers. It is recommended that breeders scan heifers closer to the 460 day age window to help avoid rejections.

Q: Are there any feed requirements for scanned animals?

A: Marbling differences are difficult to detect in thin animals. Place bulls on a high energy ration (about 3 lbs gain/day) after weaning. Use a normal heifer development program, with a moderate to high energy ration.

Q: How can I be sure that the measurements I receive are accurate?

A: Canadian Angus Association requires high standards of data collection:

1) CUP technicians are rigorously trained and tested.

2) Scanned images are anonymously read and cross checked at the CUP lab.

3) Clipping small areas of the coat is required in order to improve image accuracy.

Q: How long does it take after the scan until I see the data?

A: The National CUP Lab guarantees that complete data will be processed in seven business days.

Q: How do I get my herd scanned?

A: Contact a CUP certified technician at least a month in advance of your scan date. If you have not received an ultrasound barn worksheet with your latest 365 day worksheet, contact the CAA before the scheduled scan date. Individual animals not included on the barn worksheet may be written in.

Q: What does it cost?

A: Scanning fees are determined by the ultrasound technician—contact them for an estimate. CUP lab costs are US$4 per head, payable to the lab. There is no charge for processing ultrasound data at the Canadian Angus Association.

Q: Who collects ultrasound data?

A: Your ultrasound technician must be certified by an industry group called the Ultrasound Guidelines Council and approved by the Canadian Angus Association. A list of approved technicians is available on the Canadian Angus Association website.

Q: Why do the cattle have to be clipped?

A: The accuracy of %IMF is greatly improved when the hair is clipped to 1/2 inch in length or less in the scan area.

Q: Is the scan weight on my barn worksheet recorded as the yearling weight in the Canadian Angus Association office?

A: No, 365 day weights must be sent to Canadian Angus Association separate from the ultrasound information. If the scan weight is to be used for a 365 day weight the breeder is responsible for submitting the weight as a yearling weight to the Canadian Angus Association. The scan weight will not automatically be used as a 365 day weight.

Q. I scanned all of my bulls together. Why are they being indexed into two groups?

A. There could be several reasons, but the most likely one is that they were separated at weaning into different management/contemporary groups.

Q. If I send three bulls to a test station will they be ranked against all of the bulls in the test station?

A. While the test station may compare all of the bulls, the Angus genetic analysis will compare only your bulls. All of the other bulls have been raised in different environments before arriving at the test station. Therefore, they cannot be fairly compared.

Ultrasound Definitions

Rib Fat: An external fat measurement taken between the 12th and 13th ribs, measured in inches.

Rump Fat: An external measurement taken between the hooks and pins, measured in inches. The rump fat and the rib fat measurements are used to determine the overall external body fat.

Ribeye Area: Area of the longissimus muscle, measured in square inches. The trait is moderately to highly heritable and gives an indication of overall carcass muscling.

Intramuscular Fat (%IMF): Percentage of fat in the ribeye area muscle (similar to marbling). The field technician collects four images and the values generated by the interpreting software are averaged for an overall %IMF. Marbling directly contributes to beef palatability.

Instructions for using the Canadian Angus Association Animal & EPD search forms

With these search facilities you can locate animals from the latest Canadian Angus Evaluation and the Canadian Angus Herd book based on criteria such as name, tattoo, registration number, sire progeny, dam progeny to name just a few. Any combination of the criteria can be used for your search. Each search criteria added would limit your search, finding only those which meet ALL criteria. If you are unsure, it may be better to choose only one field at a time, clearing old criteria before beginning a new search.

Searches are not case-specific.

Name
Enter the start or the animal’s entire name. You can enter RED MAGGIE BURR to find animals that start with the name RED MAGGIE BURR, but you can’t search on RED BURR and expect to find results for animals whose names are RED MAGGIE BURR. If you’re not certain of the exact name, you can use the wildcard character (%). For example, enter RED MAGGIE % or RED M% BURR. Please note that the wildcard character cannot be the first character of the animal’s name.

Tattoo(s)
Enter one or more animal tattoos separated by commas (e.g. ABC 1K, ABC 2K, ABC 3K). Put a space between the tattoo letters and the number/year (e.g. ABC 1K, not ABC1K).

Registration #(s)
Type in the Canadian Registration number (US registration numbers are not cross-referenced). You may type in more than one registration number; separate them by a comma.

Calving Year(s)
Enter one or more calving years separated by a comma. You would likely use this field in combination with another, for example Current Owner Membership #.

Current Owner Membership #
You can enter in a membership # to view Herd Inventory for a specific ID. It may be a good idea to use this field in a combination with another, for example calving year and Select If: Male.

Color
This field defaults to all. You may want to select only black or only red to limit the results of your search.

Registration Status
This field defaults to registered. You can select recorded to view commercial animals, or all to select both registered and recorded animals.

Select If
You can use more than one ‘select if’ criteria at one time. Using the criteria identified in these scrolling Select If fields, you can search for animals that fit the following descriptions:

Animal is: Use the line with no description to prevent invoking select criteria in your search

Active: Animal is currently active, has not been disposed of.

Male: Animal is of the male sex

Female: Animal is of the female sex

Mature Sire: Animal fits the criteria of mature sire as determined by the Breed Development Committee. This would be a sire that is found in the printed sire summary.

Young Sire: Animal fits the criteria of a young sire as determined by the Breed Development committee. This would be a sire that is found in the printed Sire Summary.

Breeder located
This field defaults to Anywhere. You can limit your search in this field to a specific province or country.

Sire Name
You can type in a sire name to view his progeny. The sire name would have to be exact.

Dam Name
You can type in a dam name to view her progeny. The dam name would have to be exact.

Sort By
You can choose to sort by Animal Name or Animal Ident (registration number) in ascending or descending order.

Once your search has resulted in a match or matches, you can click on any information that is highlighted to further your search. For example there may be progeny available to look at, or you can view the pedigree tree. If the breeder or current owner of an animal is a member of the Canadian Angus Association, their name will be highlighted and you can click on it to view their membership information such as a phone number, address or email address.

DNA Test Process

1. Decide which animal(s) need to be tested and what test(s) are required.
2. Submit the list to the member service team by emailing or calling 1-888-571-3580.
3. Collect your DNA samples: your Association recommends that you collect a DNA sample on your animals when you are processing them. You are able to store most types of samples at room temperature in a safe location indefinitely. Please ensure that the samples are well labelled for ease of future use. Hair samples should include the hair root or follicle. Hair can be affixed to hair cards available through your Association. In addition blood cards and tissue sampling units (TSUs) are available.
4. Submit clearly labelled samples to the Canadian Angus Association, Unit 14 – 620 1st AVE NW Airdrie, AB T4B 2R3.

Click here to view best practices in collecting DNA samples.

If a DNA parentage test identifies a parentage problem on a registered animal, a temporary suspension will be applied and the Canadian Angus Association will work toward a solution with the parties involved. Once the parentage and pedigree have been resolved, the suspension will be removed. If the parentage problem remains unsolved, the suspension will remain. Progeny of suspended of animals are also suspended until the problem is resolved.

Sometimes a registration cannot be processed because registry staff have questions about the calves. If this happens, the calf will be assigned a ?number (question mark number) and you will receive a Request for Information (RFI) in the mail. The RFI identifies the specific information required to proceed with the registration.

YOU MUST RESPOND TO THE RFI IN WRITING. TO ENSURE ACCURACY, CHANGES CANNOT BE ACCEPTED BY THE TELEPHONE!

Simply make the corrections or add the necessary information on the RFI and return it to the Canadian Angus Association office by fax (403-571-3599), email or mail. The fee for the registration will be held for 180 days to allow you time to respond. After 180 days the registration fee will be assessed as per the current fee schedule.

In a 2019 survey, Canadian Angus members and their commercial customers identified traits that were important to them in their own operations. We currently do not have genetic evaluations for these traits. It is evident that our genetic evaluations have to evolve to include traits that are important to our members and their customers. In order to generate EPDs for these traits, we need to collect data on these traits. Herds that collect and submit data on these traits will receive EPDs for these traits. New traits include high immune response, mature cow weight, height, and body condition score, claw set score and foot angle score, and teat and udder score, residual average daily gain, and docility.

Download Here

As of January 1, 2013, it has been mandatory for members to use a herd name. Herd names are used as a prefix when naming registered cattle to identify the owner at birth.

Your herd name does not have to be the same as your membership name. For example, Joe Smith owns Twisty Creek Angus Farm and wishes to use “Twisty Creek” in naming his cattle.

There are some restrictions on the words you can use in a herd name. Words such as FARM, RANCH, RED, ANGUS, LTD., and CORP. cannot be part of a herd name. The Association has the right to refuse any name (see Section C of the Constitution).

To register a herd name for your exclusive use, submit Application for Tattoo Letters and Herd Name. and pay the appropriate fee (see current fee schedule for rates) to the Association.

Herd names can be shared between members with permission (i.e. parents and children), unlike tattoo letters, which cannot be shared. A herd name need only be applied for once (by each member) and will stay with the member as long as (s)he is an active member of the Association. If a herd name is not used for seven years it may be reassigned.

Examples of Memberships and Herd Names

It’s not Angus without papers to prove it.
There is no such thing as a purebred without papers.

Every animal registered in the Canadian Angus herdbook receives an official certificate of registration.

A      Name—the name of the animal

B       CAA Reg. No.—all registered animals are assigned a numerical identification number

C      Foreign Ident—if the animal has been imported from another country, the animal’s foreign registration number and country of origin will be in this space

D      Tattoo—the animal’s tattoo. Buyers should check that the ear tattoo matches the tattoo on the certificate.

E      Date of Birth—the animal’s date of birth

F       Genetic tests—results of genetic condition testing appear in this section. F means the animal has tested free for the condition; C means the animal is a carrier; and A means the animal has been identified as affected.

G      Sex—indicates if the animal is male, female or steer

H      Parentage—indicates if the animal is sire verified, dam verified or parent verified. If this space is blank, the animal has not been parent verified.

I        Breeder—the registered owner or lessee of the dam at the time of conception

J        Current Owner—if the animal has not been transferred, the information here will match the information in the breeder section above. If the animal has been transferred, it will list the current owner.

K      Transfer Date—the date that the animal was transferred to the current owner, if applicable

L       Three-generation pedigree—the names, registration numbers and genetic condition test results are included

M, N, O     Production EPDs, Carcass EPDs, Maternal EPDs—if the animal is enrolled in the Canadian Angus Performance Program, the EPDs and accuracies as of the date of the certificate issue are printed here

P       Individual Performance—provides actual and adjusted birth weights, adjusted weaning and yearling weights as well as index measurements

Q      CEO signature

R      Date of issue

S       CAA corporate seal—guarantee of authenticity

All Angus animals registered in Canada are 100% purebred. An animal without a registration number is not considered purebred. If the animal is not intended for sale as a registered Angus, its registration certificate should be returned to the Association for cancellation and the seller must note on the bill of sale that the animal was ‘sold as a commercial animal—no paper available’.

The Canadian Angus Association recommends that buyers and sellers of purebred Angus cattle use a bill of sale (see Sample Bill of Sale) and clearly note all details of the sale and/or agreements in writing.

Under the Animal Pedigree Act, animals sold as purebred must be transferred into the name of the buyer within six months of the date of sale. A registration certificate is an animal’s ancestral record. It is unique to each animal and is a valuable permanent record of its identification.

The registration certificate:

• Lists the animal’s registration number, tattoo, date of birth and sex
• Identifies the owner
• Identifies the three-generation pedigree
• Indicates whether the animal has been tested for any genetic conditions, and whether there are any known carriers of genetic conditions in the first three generations of its pedigree as of the date of issue
• Indicates if this animal has been sire, dam or parent verified
• Is a legal document
• Is a guarantee of authenticity backed by the Canadian Angus Association
• Qualifies the progeny of the named animal for Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed Tags and participating beef programs
• Lists individual performance data and current EPDs as of the date of issue

The tattoo in the animal’s ear must match the tattoo on the animal’s registration paper. If the tattoo does not match the certificate, contact the Canadian Angus Association for advice on how to proceed.

If a registration certificate is lost, the Canadian Angus Association can replace the certificate for a fee. Please submit your request using Declaration to Acquire a Duplicate Certificate.

To order Canadian Angus RFID indicators:
CCIA carries both the Datamars brand Temple Tag ComfortEar and the Allflex brand Canadian Angus RFID Indicators.

tags.canadaid.ca

Please order directly from CCIA's webstore or call 1-877-909-2333.

To order Canadian Angus management tags:

Please visit our Ordering Canadian Angus Management Tags page to order online or contact the Canadian Angus Association. 

Canadian Angus Tag Program Frequently Asked Questions

1. What if I haven’t bought a bull but I use Angus semen or have purchased animals bred by an Angus bull?

   Other documented evidence of Angus genetics includes AI semen receipts or affidavits for bulls from a community pasture. Individual cases will be reviewed; contact the office for further details.

2. I bought a bull but I don’t have the registration certificate, what do I do?

   If the animal was sold as a registered Angus animal the seller is required under the Animal Pedigree Act to transfer the ownership to you within six months of the sale. Check with the seller or check the Online Herdbook to see the current owner. If it has been more than six months, contact the Canadian Angus Association for assistance.

3. How do I order Angus indicators if I live in Quebec?

   The Canadian Angus Association has partnered with Agri-Traςabilité Québec to offer an Angus ATQ indicator. The indicator has a green back for the RFID tag similar to the CCIA indicator. These tags are available by contacting ATQ directly.

Tips for Tagging

Maximize tag retention by following these guidelines:

Correct application

• Select the proper buttons.
• Be sure that the backing studs correspond to the matching front of the tag. The backing stud with the Angus logo is for the RFID tag. Plain green backing studs are for the herd management (dangle) tag (matched sets).
• Please ensure you use the correct supplier (Allflex or Datamars) tagger to apply your Canadian Angus tags.
• The RFID tag with the protruding black cap always goes to the front. Reversing the tag not only reduces retention, it violates Health of Animals legislation.
• For RFID tags, remove the black plastic clip from the tagger, allowing the indicator to fit properly into the tagger’s jaws. If the tag is not aligned correctly it could be damaged, causing it to later fall out.
• Make sure the arrow on the back side of the electronic tag points outward.
• Do not retag in the same hole.

Indicator position

• Place tags in the proper location in the ear. The shape of the ear protects the tag and minimizes snagging. Apply the tag in the middle of the ear closer to the head between the two main veins of the ear.

Prevent Infection

• Place the tag in the applicator and dip it into antiseptic solution before applying each tag.
• The application site should be free from foreign debris before application.
• Air space between the tag and the ear is crucial to proper healing and retention; inspect the ear after application to ensure there is proper space.

For more information on the Canadian Angus Tag Program, please contact the Canadian Angus Association by email or by phone at 1-888-571-3580.