ANGUS Australia has introduced a parentage assurance program.
The Angus Parentage Assurance Program highlights sale or semen catalogues listed on the Angus Australia website by vendors who have who have invested in DNA testing for parentage verification.
The parentage assurance program is made up two different categories, Angus Sire Assured and Angus Parentage Assured.
Angus Sire Assured applies to sale or semen catalogues where all lots have been DNA sire verified, while Angus Parentage Assured is dedicated to sale and semen catalogues where all lots have been DNA parent verified, confirming both the sire and the dam are correct.
Sale and semen catalogues that qualify as either Angus Sire Assured or Angus Parentage Assured will be identified with the relevant parentage assurance program logo.
Additionally, users of the SemenSELECT and SaleSELECT tools on the Angus Australia website will now have the ability to limit their searches to catalogues that are qualified as Angus Sire Assured or Angus Parentage Assured when making their animal or semen purchasing decisions.
Angus Australia Breed Development and Extension Manager Andrew Byrne said the introduction of this program recognised Angus seedstock producers who have invested in the DNA testing available for parentage verification.
“These producers have assisted in improving the integrity of the pedigree, genetic condition and Angus BREEDPLAN EBV information that is displayed for any Angus animals or semen they are offering for sale through the investment that they have made into the DNA verification of their animal’s parentage,” he said.
“And most importantly purchasers can invest in animals from sales recognised by the Angus Parentage Assurance Program with additional confidence.”