Will ASA, under the suggested sale terms & conditions, require all sale cattle to be tested free or be green code? No. The only thing required by the ASA is sires and donor dams that fall under either the ‘carrier in lineage’ (pink code) or ‘suspect population’ (yellow code) category for a particular abnormality be tested for that abnormality. The breeder and/or sale management have total latitude in determining sale eligibility.
If I sell an animal that is later found to have a genetic defect what is the limit of my liability? The ASA has no jurisdiction or opinion in this area. The laws or courts of the state where the sale occurred would likely make that determination.
Can I sell a pink or yellow code animal and transfer papers? Yes. You can also sell a red coded animal and transfer papers. Note: The ONLY thing ASA is requiring is that sires and donor dams that fall under our ‘suspect population’ or ‘carrier in lineage’ category be tested.
What animals will be put in a “genetic hold” status? Calves out of sires or donor dams that requiring testing per ASA's Genetic Abnormality Policy.
Will a purebred calf from a yellow code ¾ blood Simmental cow and a purebred Simmental bull have a green or yellow code calf? This question requires a review of a couple points in ASA's Genetic Abnormality Policy: - An animal with 1/8 or more blood from an unknown ancestor that comes from a suspect population is considered a 'population risk' animal under ASA's Genetic Abnormality Policy. Population risk animals are coded yellow on the ASA website.
- An animal that traces to a known carrier that does not have a tested free animal in its pedigree pathway between it and the known carrier falls into the ‘carrier in lineage’ category. Carrier in lineage animals are coded pink on the ASA website.
If we assume: - The bull to be coded green for the abnormality in question, i.e., it does not fall into the ‘population risk’ (yellow) nor ‘carrier in lineage’ (pink) categories and,
- The dam to be coded yellow because it has 1/4 blood from an unknown animal belonging to a suspect population.
The resultant offspring will be coded yellow, i.e., fall into the ‘suspect population’ category because it will have 1/8 blood from an unknown ancestor belonging to a suspect population. However, if we assume: - The sire to be green and,
- The dam to be yellow because it has 1/8 of its blood from an unknown ancestor from a suspect population
The resultant offspring will have 1/16 of its blood coming from an unknown ancestor from a suspect population. In this case the calf will fall into the ‘assumed free’ category (i.e., lightest green code). Keep in mind: - Purebred Simmental bulls can either have 1/8 blood from an unknown ancestor from a suspect population or have a carrier in their lineage, purebred Simmental bulls can potentially be coded pink or yellow.
- It is quite possible that we will find purebred Simmental bulls (and females) that prove to be carriers for abnormalities typically associated with other breeds/populations, i.e., purebred Simmentals coded red for these abnormalities.
- As genetic abnormality testing evolves there will be tests developed that identify deleterious mutations typically associated with the Simmental population—Simmental cattle are certainly not immune to genetic abnormalities.
Will I receive a registration paper and EPDs on calves that have a pink or yellow code? Registration papers and EPDs are withheld on calves that fall into a “genetic hold” status. Note: A calf’s “genetic hold” status is not determined by its own abnormality status, i.e., whether it’s coded pink, yellow or green is immaterial. A “genetic hold” status is issued on calves that are out of a donor dam or sire that has a pink or yellow code that has not been tested. Once their parent in question has been tested, the calf’s registration paper and EPDs will be released.
Unless I test every pink or yellow code cow aren’t they the same as a commercial cow? A pink or yellow code does not mean that the animal in question is a carrier of a genetic abnormality. It simply means that, based on the information available, we have determined the animal to be at a greater risk of carrying the abnormality than a green shaded animal. Reciprocally, breeders should be cognizant of the fact that a green shaded animal can possibly be a carrier of the genetic abnormality. The only animals we can be absolutely certain of being non carriers are those that have been tested free (dark green) –
and that conclusion requires the assumption that no error occurred in testing.
The ASA Genetic Abnormality Policy is a scientifically-based approach to managing and ultimately reducing the incidence of genetic abnormalities in our population. It leverages cutting-edge technology both from a DNA testing and software development standpoint to identify and present the various levels of risk animals in ASA’s population are at for carrying genetic abnormalities. Though it certainly provides pertinent information about our population (as do EPDs for example), it does not reduce an animal’s value by excluding it from the database or preventing registration. The ultimate determinant of value is the market place.
Why not sell them all? What value does a pink or yellow code animal have for our Association? The color codes provide a simple and effective means of conveying information about an animal’s risk level for carrying a genetic abnormality. Again, the color code only provides information—it is the market place that determines value.
Can I be confident that bulls from AI studs are in compliance with ASA’s Genetic Abnormality Policy? No. You should check the ASA website to verify the status of any sire you have used or plan on using. | 
