Complete Animal Reporting (CAR)

Standard and Verified Herd Enrollments Explained

Historically, beef breed association genetic evaluations relied solely on weaned and/or registered progeny but often did not collect information from females that failed to reproduce. Furthermore, often was the case performance data was only reported for calves that were registered.

By contrast, inventory-based Complete Animal Reporting (CAR) functions around the premise of the collection and reporting on an annual basis; the production history of every cow in the herd and performance of every calf in the herd raised through weaning.

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Why an Inventory Based System

Collecting records on the production of every female allows for the calculation of unbiased reproductive genetic predictions, such as heifer pregnancy and Stayability. Collecting weaning weights on the whole calf crop allows for the calculation of unbiased genetic predictions for growth through weaning, as well as the ability to account for selection for post-weaning traits. The importance of the latter cannot be overstated.

The purpose of CAR is to accumulate reproductive and performance data on all animals in a producer’s herd not to control which animals will be registered, that remains a decision of individual breeders.

Registry Options

Members of the American Wagyu Association may choose between two registry programs to participate in; Standard Herd or Verified Herd. Please read carefully the following information.

Standard Herd Enrollment

An enrollment must be completed on-line through the American Wagyu Associations DigitalBeef program. Enrollment, or completed inventory, should include all active females in the breeder’s herd for which they will be collecting production data, regardless if they raise a calf or not. Enrolled females benefit from registration of natural born calves born during the enrollment year at no additional cost and a lower fee for transfers while enrolled on the Standard Herd program. This is the American Wagyu Associations performance program, and Expected Progeny Differences (EPD) will be available for all cattle owned that meet the guidelines for EPD to be published.

For herds enrolled in the Complete Animal Recording Program (Standard Herds) there are two inventory periods, Spring and Fall calving herds.

Spring calving herds (January 1st – June 30th) and fall calving herds (July 1st – December 31st).

Breeders will identify those animals that are active in the herd and those to be removed from inventory, add any new animals of breeding age not found on the inventory report (e.g., new purchases), and submit the completed inventory report to be invoiced. These inventories should include all active females in the breeder’s herd for which they will be collecting production data, regardless if they raise a calf or not.

It is important to remember to enroll those females 2 years of age January 1st for Spring enrolled herds and 2 years of age July 1st for Fall enrolled herds or will record a breeding or calving record during the year.

Females not enrolled by December 31st of the current year will be deactivated January 1st the following year and reactivation fees will apply.

Enrollment Procedures

Breeders will login on DigitalBeef and complete their inventory and then submit for invoice to be created.

If a breeder does not want to login on DigitalBeef they must request in writing for a paper copy of their inventory to be sent to them to be completed and returned by the breeder to the American Wagyu Association office. Same timeline applies.

Remember to enroll those females 2 years of age January 1st for Spring enrolled herds and 2 years of age July 1st for Fall enrolled herds or will record a breeding or calving record during the year.

Cows that have been inactivated while in a Standard Herd must be reactivated before they can be transferred, reactivation fees will apply. See the fee schedule for reactivation fees.

Other Important Rules and Considerations for Standard Herds

Reactivation fees: $40 reactivation fee (one time) to reinstate deactivated females. Plus CAR enrollment fee for the current year and each prior year reactivation is requested.

Transfer of deactivated females: Cows that have been inactivated while in a Standard Herd must be reactivated, fees apply, before they can be transferred.

ET calves are subject to the traditional fee schedule. See Active donor females for more information on ET calves.

Purebred and Fullblood ET calves born to an enrolled recipient dam will be credited the enrollment fee of the recipient dam towards the registration fee of the calf.

Active donor females must be enrolled. Enrolled donor females benefit from registration of a natural born calf born during the enrollment year at no additional cost or an ET calf born during the enrollment year if no natural born calf has been registered that was born during the enrollment year.

Verified Herd Enrollment

Use this program if you do not want to pay an enrollment fee on your active females. Traditional registration fees will apply based on the age of the animal to be registered. EPD will not be published on animal’s bred and owned with this program.

Additional Resources