Total Herd Reporting (THR) is rapidly becoming the industry standard for reporting beef seedstock performance information, and the IBBA is emerging as a leader in THR.
IBBA membership provides flexibility.
Brangus®, Red Brangus, Ultrablack®, Ultrared or Certified, its your choice. You choose the genetics that best fit your customers' needs.
IBBA membership is full featured, not complex.
The Brangus Automated Registry Network (BARN) is the most advanced and user friendly registry system in the industry. In fact, for most breeders the BARN can eliminate the need for other herd management software.
IBBA membership provides access.
The IBBA is an active participant in the development of Multi-Breed EPD, and participates in the Beef Cattle Decision Support web-based software developed by Colorado State University and the National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium. Sorting and selecting genetics based on real economics positions IBBA members and their customers for increased profitability.
IBBA membership is global.
IBBA is an active member of US Livestock Genetics Export, Inc. allowing members to leverage their ability to market IBBA genetics worldwide. IBBA currently provides services to breeders in Australia, Brazil, Columbia, Costa Rica, and Mexico.
IBBA membership creates opportunity.
The IBBA Business Plan includes the following purpose statement:
"Enable IBBA members to serve the commercial cattle industry."
The beef seedstock business is becoming increasingly competitive, and today's breeders need an association that is truly dedicated to the needs of its members' customers.
Add value to your bulls by adding value to their calves!
The International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA) has launched a USDA genetics, source and age verification program, OptimaxX. The OptimaxX program is a direct result of the renewed commitment on the part of Brangus breeders to service the commercial beef industry with value adding products. OptimaxX calves will not only be source and age verified, but also Brangus verified. Verifying the Brangus content of the calves adds another layer of valuable information for the buyer over a generic source and age verification program. The buyers of calves with the bright yellow OptimaxX tag will know exactly what they are negotiating for. Progeny of Brangus, Red Brangus Ultrablack, Ultrared and Certified animals that are properly recorded with IBBA are eligible for the OptimaxX program.
The OptimaxX tag will provide access to current marketing avenues for age and source verified calves, as well as, future market access programs developed specifically for Brangus-influenced calves. The only direct cost to a commercial producer to access the program and these marketing opportunities will be the cost of the OptimaxX tag, $1.25 for the visual tag and $3.25 for a paired visual and electronic tag. Data management services required to comply with USDA requirements will be provided by the IBBA at no charge to the producer. The IBBA will also maintain pertinent marketing information (backgrounding, preconditioning, etc.) on OptimaxX calves in an internet database for easy access by potential buyers.
Collecting the data to accurately describe and assess our genetics...
Accurate genetic information is the cornerstone of a sound breeding program, and Total Herd Reporting (THR) provides the truest and most complete performance data available for calculating genetic information. As a result of THR the IBBA will soon be able to provide additional genetic measures for reproductive traits.
Annual Reporting Schedule
Event
Spring Calving
Fall Calving
The Association sends each member a
preliminary inventory based on the previous
year's inventory that has been adjusted for
disposal and transfer information reported to
the association by this date.
January 15
July 15
Member returns the inventory to the
Association with all changes, additions and
corrections. Inventory adjustments can be
made online.
Online: February 28 Mail: February 14
Online: August 31 Mail: August 15
INVENTORY DATE Association invoices members for annual
THR assessments based on your herd
inventory. (Terms 50% due at invoicing and
50% due at 60 days.)
March 1
September 1
Association sends 'No Progeny Report' to
those members who have active cows with no
calf record or reason code.
January 15
August 15
'No Progeny Report' due back to
Association. Cows with no calf record or
reason code reported are deactivated.
Online: February 28 Mail: February 14
Online: August 31 Mail: August 15
Association sends inventory worksheets to
members to report the production of each
cow for the THR calendar year.
August 1
February 1
The IBBA Total Herd Reporting system is designed to improve the collection of
performance information on all active animals in the breed and to equally spread the
costs of promoting the breed across all active animals in the breed. Rather than the
traditional calf-based registration fee structure that discourages the reporting of complete
contemporary group information, THR uses an inventory-based fee structure or annual
assessment charged on all reproductively mature animals. THR requires the reporting of
annual production and performance records on all cattle within a herd, but the
responsibility of selecting which calves are worthy of registration remains with the
breeder.
Under THR members will pay a single, annual assessment on each animal of
'assessment age'. Payment of the annual assessment on a cow entitles the cow owner
(breeder) to register one calf born to the cow during that 12-month period and a single
transfer of that calf to a new owner if the transfer occurs before the animal reaches 24
months of age, if a female or 30 months of age, if a male. Payment of the annual
assessment on a bull allows for the subsequent registration of calves sired by the bull
during that year of service, provided all other registration requirements have been met.
Cattle born prior to January 1, 2007 are subject the old registration and fee structure.
Assessment of annual THR fees began January 1, 2007, and all animals born on or
after January 1, 2007 will be subject to the THR registration regulations.
Major benefits of THR include:
Simplicity; one fee covers the most common breeder expenses, rather than multiple
fees for routine transactions.
Quality; complete reporting will improve the reliability of EPDs on all IBBA cattle by
removing the effects of reporting bias.
Improved customer service; no extra fee for calf transfers will ensure more complete
reporting of transfers. Improved identification of bull owners increases the
likelihood of participation in commercial marketing programs which will improve
demand for IBBA seedstock.
New selection tools; Total Herd Reporting will make it possible to estimate fertility
and survivability EPDs and to calculate herd-average reproduction and
production management measures for within herd use. These calculations are
meaningless with incomplete reporting.
I. Fee Structure and Registration Regulations
Assessment age is defined as females at least 18 months of age and males at
least 30 months of age on the appropriate Inventory Date: Spring Herd Inventory
Date is March 1; Fall Herd Inventory Date is September 1.
Payment of the annual assessment makes that animal 'active' for the following
12 months. Progeny may only be registered to dams that are 'active' during the
birth year of the progeny and sires that were 'active' during the year the progeny
was conceived.
Payment of the annual assessment on a female entitles the breeder to a) register
one calf born to that female during that 12-month period; and b) transfer that calf
to a new owner if the transfer occurs before the animal reaches 24 months of
age, if female, or 30 months, if male.
Payment of the annual assessment on a bull makes that bull active for that
service year. Calves may only be registered to bulls that were 'active' during the
year of service (the year prior to birth in the case of ET calves). Registrations
submitted for progeny by a sire that was under the assessment age at the time of
service will not be completed until the annual assessment is paid on the sire for
the year of service.
DNA test results must be submitted by the time the assessments are paid for AI
sires and ET donor dams not previously tested.
The first transfer of a bull under 30 months of age and a female under 24 months
of age will not be charged a transfer fee. Any subsequent transfer of such an
animal will be charged the transfer fee on the current fee schedule. Transfers of
bulls 30 months of age and older and females 24 months of age and older will be
charged the transfer fee on the current fee schedule. Age at transfer will be
determined by postmark on mailed in work and by work order date for online
work.
Cattle of assessment age that are reactivated during the 12 months following the
Inventory Date will be charged the full annual assessment.
Owners of A.l sires will be invoiced for the sire's annual assessment when
registrations are submitted for progeny of the sire, if the sire was not previously
assessed for the service year. Association rules require that A.l sires be DNA
typed prior to their use.
Any joint owner wishing to register and transfer progeny from a jointly owned
female must maintain that female on his/her active inventory. In order to avoid a
Reactivation Fee at least one owner must pay the annual assessment.
Assessments on leased animals will be charged to the lessee unless written
instructions to the contrary are on file in the national office.
Embryo Transfer (ET) calves born to the same donor dam during the twelve
month period are charged equivalent fees. The assessment fee must be paid on
each ET calf unless the recipient dam is 'active' (i.e., current year assessment
already paid), in which case no additional assessment is due. If the annual
assessment on the donor dam has been paid, the owner of the donor dam is
allowed one calf registration, whether natural or ET.
In the case of a multiple birth (twins, triplets, etc.) no additional assessment
beyond the cow's annual assessment will be incurred on the dam in order to
register the resulting calves.
II. Reporting Requirements
During each 12-month period one of the following must be received for each 'active' female on inventory:
A calf record (regardless of whether or not the calf will be registered) with all
required information, including weaning data or a pre-weaning disposal code
for the calf.
A disposal code for the female indicating that she is dead or has otherwise
been culled from 'active' inventory
A reason code for the cow's failure to produce a calf (open, embryo transfer
program, moved to the next calving season, etc.).
Assessment age females will be deactivated and removed from the breeder's
inventory unless one of the above items is reported each year. A Reactivation
Fee will be required for reinstatement. If a female is removed (either by a breeder
designated disposal code, or by the IBBA for failure to meet reporting
requirements) from a member's inventory and subsequently reappears in a later
year, the Reactivation Fee plus the current year annual assessment will be
required to reinstate the cow. Cattle may also be deactivated by the Association
if a member's account becomes delinquent. The per head Reactivation Fee will
be charged on each deactivated animal that is reactivated, even if the animal is
sold to a new owner.
If the calf dies before weaning, the breeder is required to provide the appropriate
calf disposal code plus sire information, calf sex, birth date, mating, color, and
horn status code.
Bulls can be deactivated and reactivated without charge. Date of death will be
required on dead bulls to terminate natural service registrations at the
appropriate time.
Adjusted weights, ratios, and EPD calculations are part of services received
through the THR program.
III. Breeding Herd Inventory and THR Schedule
Spring Herd Inventory is defined as females calving January 1st - June 30th. The
Spring Herd Inventory Date is March 1 of each year. Fall Herd Inventory is
defined as females calving July 1st - December 31st. The Fall Herd Inventory
Date is September 1 of each year. Bulls may be assigned to either herd as
desired by the breeder.
At least thirty (30) days prior to each Inventory Date each breeder will receive an
inventory report for his/her appropriate (Spring or Fall) inventory identifying all
animals of assessment age in that herd.
Each breeder will identify by the use of disposal codes those animals to be
removed from inventory, add new animals of breeding age not found on the
inventory report (e.g., new purchases, leased animals, etc.), and return the
completed inventory report to the national office prior to the Inventory Date.
Disposal codes may also be submitted via the IBBA BARN system on the IBBA
website prior to the inventory date. Transfers made prior to the inventory date will
automatically remove and/or add animals to breeder inventories when the
transfer is processed.
IMPORTANT: On the Inventory Date for the appropriate herd, breeders will
be invoiced for the THR fee on all animals shown on inventory in that herd.
No credit will be issued for animals disposed of after the Inventory Date,
and a Reactivation Fee will be required on all previously removed animals
that are returned to inventory after the Inventory Date.
If assessments are not paid within 60 days of the date of the invoice, no further
services will be provided by IBBA until the account is paid in full.
A member may have both spring-calving and fall-calving herds. An animal
may be moved from one herd to another only once in any 18 month period by
designating the move as a Reason Code (moved to Next Calving Season) on the
inventory report.
Having animals move back and forth between Spring and Fall inventories is a
problem for members who calve in winter and/or summer. For herds affected by
this problem, the system allows a 45 day window of opportunity for those animals
that calve 45 days prior to or 45 days after their respective Spring and Fall
inventories. Females calving within these windows will remain in the herd
designated by the breeder.
IV. Performance Option
The Performance Option can be used by breeders who do not wish to register
calves but want to record data.
The Performance Option is intended for progeny test data from commercial
cattle, or animals from other breeds or registries.
All complete records on Performance Option animals will be entered into the
Association database and used in the National Cattle Evaluation and other
performance calculations where appropriate.
No Performance Certificates will be issued on Performance Option animals, and
they will not receive EPDs.
Increasing demand for IBBA genetics begins with identifying them!
Because the commercial Brangus female should be noted throughout the US beef industry as having excellent maternal characteristics, distinguishing females sired by IBBA bulls from other 'Brangus-type' females and developing marketing and promotional support for producers using IBBA bulls to produce replacement females should be a priority of the IBBA. The IBBA commercial female program is designed to:
Add value to commercial replacement females sired by IBBA bulls through organized marketing opportunities for those females with the ultimate goal of increasing the demand for the IBBA bulls needed to produce those females.
To fully realize this goal, the program must have high credibility through verification of all claims and be reasonably simple for potential participants and potential female buyers to fully understand.
Program Label
To effectively promote a product or program, the product or program needs a label around which to build name recognition. The BRANGUS GOLD label suggests a superior product and capitalizes on the already established name recognition associated with the 'Black Gold' label that has been used by the IBBA for several years.
Identification System
Qualifying females will be identified with an ear tag, displaying the BRANGUS GOLD program label. The tag will include a blank center section for the producer to write in his own ID number and a unique program ID number that will be tied back to the producer receiving the tag through the IBBA database. Producers will have the opportunity to add supplemental marketing information (breed of dam, IBBA sire lines represented, exposure information, etc.) to the animal's record in an IBBA web-based marketing system to be built over the next year.
Qualifications
Only females that 1) can be verified as having at least one IBBA Registered or Certified parent and 2) conform to phenotype restrictions* are eligible for this program. Females previously qualified as OptimaxX calves would automatically qualify for the BRANGUS GOLD program (provided they conform to phenotype restrictions*). Only females tagged with the BRANGUS GOLD tag will be eligible to participate in IBBA marketing programs.
*Phenotype Restrictions Females must be polled or scurred and predominately black or predominately red. Long Horn and Dairy crosses will be ineligible.
Participation
To participate, a producer will be required to complete an annual supplier application (paper and web-based forms will be available). IBBA staff will use the supplier application and other pertinent information to determine the producer's eligibility for the program and the number of tags that the producer may purchase for that calendar year. Once a producer is approved, he may request tags at any time during that calendar year – up to the number of tags allotted for that producer.
IBBA Commercial Marketing Program Tag Voucher
The program will include provisions so that IBBA members in good standing may purchase an IBBA Commercial Marketing Program Tag Voucher (in any five dollar increment) to provide to a bull buyer as an incentive to participate in the program. An IBBA Commercial Marketing Program Tag Voucher would entitle the bearer, if an approved producer, up to the face value of the voucher toward the purchase of BRANGUS GOLD and/or OptimaxX,/b> tags. The IBBA Commercial Marketing Program Tag Voucher will be non-refundable and will have no cash value.
Promotion
Promotion of the program will be consistent with the IBBA communication plan and in many cases coincide with promotion of the IBBA OptimaxX program, since both programs share some of the same audiences.
Promotion will be three tiered in order to reach each audience needed to make the program successful: IBBA members must be educated on the use of the program as a customer service tool; IBBA bull buyers must be educated on utilizing the program to add value to their IBBA sired replacement females; other commercial producers must be educated on the many benefits of IBBA sired replacement females. Print advertising, web advertising, printed hand out materials, as well as, any other reasonable vehicle available to cost effectively promote the program to these audiences will be employed as required.
Promotion must also include the development of special marketing opportunities for BRANGUS GOLD females. The IBBA will assist regional and state associations in developing replacement female sales, as well as encourage and assist in developing other marketing opportunities as appropriate.
Fall 2010 THR preliminary inventories and no progeny reports will be mailed to IBBA members on July 15, 2010. Please review your reports and make any necessary changes by August 31, 2010 to meet the reporting deadline. Contact the office if you have any questions regarding your Fall inventory.
The IBBA Board of Directors held a conference call meeting on July 5, 2010 to discuss the recommendations from the Show Committee pertaining to the IBBA Rules for Show Eligibility and Inspections of Exhibits.
The IBBA Board has unanimously passed the following change to the rules for exhibiting Brangus cattle.
We heard you. Starting with the September/October issue of the FRONTLINE Beef Producer, BPI will be instituting an IBBA member discount for advertising in FRONTLINE Beef Producer
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