In an email sent  Friday, May 28, 2021 6:39 AM from outreach@hereford.org the following rule changes were announced to Hereford membership:

Genetic Abnormality - Potential Carrier Designation  

During the April 2021 Board of Directors (BOD) meeting of the American Hereford Association (AHA), rules relating to the designation of potential carriers of genetic abnormalities were amended.

Starting July 13, 2021 animals that have an unbroken pedigree link to a confirmed carrier of a genetic abnormality will be designated with the letter “P” for potential carrier. For example, an animal that has an unbroken pedigree link to a confirmed Mandibulofacial Dysostosis Carrier (MDC) parent will show online as Mandibulofacial Dysostosis Potential (MDP).

Animals designated with a “P” will remain listed as potential carriers until the animal is DNA tested either free or as a carrier for the specific genetic abnormality/condition or if the pedigree link to the carrier parent is broke.

*THIS DESIGNATION WILL BE ADDED FOR ALL KNOWN GENETIC ABNORMALITIES* 

What does that mean for us breeders?

If you have a calf that traces back to a known defect carrier for all known genetic defects they will bare the designation on their papers.  The following terms will now appear on registration papers after July, 13, 2021:

IEP, Idiopathic Epilepsy carrier with an unbroken link on pedigree

DYP, Dilutor carrier with an unbroken link on pedigree.

HYP, Hypotrichosis carrier with an unbroken link on pedigree

MSUDP, Maple Syrup Urine Disease carrier with an unbroken link on pedigree

MDP, Mandibulofacial Dysostosis carrier with an unbroken link on pedigree

So lets clarify a few terms used in the email.

Unbroken pedigree link means that the carrier animal (result ends in C) has a direct genetic pathway to your animal,  which has not been broken by a DNA test result that was free (result ends in F) of said defect.  An example would be if I used an MSUDC bull to produce a heifer calf (Calf A) which I had not tested for MSUD, this offspring would be labeled as MSUDP.  Calf A's offspring would also be labeled as MSUDP until the time I had tested her and she showed as MSUDF.  Once Calf A tested MSUDF she would "break the pedigree link" to the known MSUDC animal.

What does this mean for most people?  I think we will see an large increase at the DNA lab with testing requests.  So get your cattle tested sooner rather than later.

*** This is also one more step closer to having all calves tested so you might consider biting the bullet and just testing every calf.  This should put you ahead of the next DNA requirement that the AHA passes down to membership. ***

The best way to find out if you need to test your calves or potential purchases is by either utilizing Herfnet or calling the AHA and asking about the calf in question.  MyHerd does not show the DNA test results on the Beta search function at the present time.  The only way to see DNA test results on MyHerd, at the time this article was written, is under your DNA results tab for which you ordered the testing. 

Remember that the registration papers in your hand are only up-to-date on the day they are printed.  This will mean that producers will need to utilize the online pedigree information now more than ever.