THE Non-compliance Instructions

THE Online Enrollment Instructions

Tricks of the Trade: THE Enrollment and Calf Reporting

Getting the most valuable and versatile genetic prediction tools requires a commitment to capture data. 

THE is the gateway to accessing the most advanced systems of data analysis presently available, International Genetic Solutions (IGS).  This provides more accurate selection tools that allow for head-to-head comparisons and maximum profitability of your dams — regardless of breed.

Are your cows performing at the level you expect? 

Do you know how each of your cows influences the calf crop?

THE can provide the answers you need.

Purpose:

All sorts of information is routinely collected on sires, but dams are a different challenge. THE is a dam inventory program specifically designed to track each dam’s productivity and genetic influence on her progeny. Through THE, the data submitted annually by thousands of breeders on their dams makes it possible to calculate maternal trait EPD with greater accuracy. In turn, this allows you, as a breeder, to make better-informed selection decisions by pinpointing the highest-performing cows in your herd.

THE is designed for progressive cattle producers who are committed to collecting data.

Do you?: 

• Need EPD on the whole calf crop to make informed selection decisions?
• Collect data on the whole calf crop, but need minimal registrations?
• Need EPD only on females for choosing replacement heifers?
• Need a multi-breed (registered or commercial) whole-herd genetic evaluation?

THE, is not a one size fits all program, we have multiple options available to accommodate various breeding programs.

“If you place an emphasis on EPD when evaluating your cow herd — or if your customers rely on EPD — for the cattle you sell, you should want accurate EPD. Accurate EPD only comes from participating in THE and the Performance Advocate program. You need to submit all the data, all the time!”

- Sarah Jones, Red Hill Farms, Lafayette, TN 

THE Benefits: 

• Develop and Improve Female Records — A reproductive record on every cow, every year develops and improves maternal EPD, such as Stayability and Heifer Pregnancy. It also enables an accurate calving interval to be calculated. 
• Receive More Informative EPD  — Submitting data on the entire cow herd creates complete contemporary groups, which leads to more informative EPD, adjusted measurements, and herd reports. This allows the cream of the crop to really shine. Submitting data for only a portion of the cow herd causes the contemporary group to be biased, ultimately leading to less informative data, ratios, and EPD.
• Contribute to Genetic Improvement — All submitted data, association wide, is processed through the genetic evaluation weekly, allowing you to make breeding and replacement decisions with the most up to date and accurate information available.
• Largest Multi-Breed Genetic Evaluation — All breeds utilize the same EPD base, eliminating the need to recalculate EPD by breed when comparing. 

• Reduced-Cost or Free Registration — Registration fees for members enrolled in THE cost less and may even be free depending on the enrollment option. 
• Performance Advocate Recognition — Breeders who submit data for 90% of their entire calf crop contemporary group for 8 of the 14 traits qualify as a Dedicated Performance Advocate. Those who submit data for 90% of their calf crop for 10 of the 14 traits qualify as Driven Performance Advocates.. Those who meet this designation are highlighted in the Late Fall SimTalk and online.
• Free Online Data Reporting  — THE members can report data 24/7 according to their individual needs. Customizable reports help bring real-world value to the data you’ve collected.

Below are four different cost-saving options.

It is necessary to evaluate your individual herd goals to select the option that best suits your operation’s needs.  

See also: Breakdown of THE payment options

If you have questions or wish to discuss your specific herd goals please call ASA at 406-587-4531 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Enrollment and Calf Data Timeline 

*Non-Compliance occurs when a member fails to report a calf record for every dam enrolled for each season/year.  If the dam did not calve, a productivity code should be used to explain why she did not calve. Data has to be submitted by the above deadlines of Feb. 15 (spring herd) and Aug. 15 (fall herd) of the following year to prevent jobs from being delayed.

Frequently Asked Questions

I have registered and commercial animals. Do I have to keep all my animals in the same option?

All registered Simmental, percentage Simmental, and Simbrah cows must be enrolled in the same option. Commercial cows and cows of other breeds can be enrolled in a different option.

When I enroll a cow in Total Herd Enrollment, does that mean the cow is registered?

No, enrolling a cow in THE does not register the cow with ASA. The cow will receive a seven-digit ASA number in parentheses, and this number allows for continuous data to be reported and build records for future generations. 

When can I change THE enrollment options?

During the next season/year’s open enrollment period. Once you enroll your dams, they remain in the option you have chosen until the following year when you submit a new enrollment and are able to select a different option.

I'm not in THE, I'm in Selective Registrations (SR), do I need to report all my calves?

Participating in any of the four options requires every dam to be enrolled and a calf/productivity code to be reported each year.

I’m trying to submit my enrollment, but it’s saying I am missing cows that are on this job. 

Prior to submitting registration and transfers, you must be up to date with the previous year's calf crop data. See calf data timeline.

Do I need to enroll my recipient cows? What if I don’t own the recip?

If you own the recip, the animal should be on your inventory. If you don’t own the recip, do not list the cow on your inventory.   When you register an ET calf out of a recip you do not own, you will leave the recip dam information blank, and record the donor dam and sire of the calf. Your account will be invoiced per ET calf registered based on which option your herd is enrolled in. 

Do I need to keep my donor cow on my THE?

Donor dams need to be enrolled on inventory as long as they are alive and being managed within your herd. If the donor dam is deceased or has been sold, she needs to be removed from inventory with the appropriate code. You will still be able to register frozen embryos.

What happens if I don’t enroll my herd on time?

If your THE enrollment is not submitted by the early enrollment deadline, all dams on the preliminary inventory will be enrolled in Option A at $16.00 per animal, regardless of the previous year’s option. Members will have until the late deadline to adjust the inventory and THE option for credit (THE fees will be adjusted if you change to Option B, C, or D within the 30 days); however, there is a $1.00 per cow late-enrollment fee that will not be refunded. If adjustments are not made by the late enrollment deadline, the preliminary inventory will be the final enrollment.

Breakdown of THE payment options:

 Option A (TR)

This option fits herds where the majority of the calf crop is registered(>45%) and EPD are utilized in selection decisions.

• Every dam enrolled on inventory for $15.00/dam/year
• Calves born in enrollment year and meeting all registration requirements are registered for FREE
• Performance-based EPD returned on all calves, regardless of whether they are registered or reported

Option B (SR)

This option fits herds where less than 45% of the calf crop is registered and EPD are NOT utilized in selection decisions.

• Every dam enrolled on inventory for FREE
• Age-dependent calf registration fees
• Under 10 months of age = $30.00
• 10 to 15 months of age = $40.00
• Over 15 months of age = $50.00
• Performance-based EPD returned on registered calves only

Option C (LR)

This option fits herds where EPD are utilized in selection decisions, but registration papers are not necessary on the calves. If you start registering more than 5% of the calf crop each year, take a look at Option A: it might suit your operation better.

• Every dam enrolled on inventory for $7.50/dam/year
• Age-dependent calf registration fees
• Under 10 months of age = $30.00
• 10 to 15 months of age = $40.00
• Over 15 months of age = $50.00
• Performance-based EPD returned on all calves, regardless of whether they are registered or reported

Option D (CM)

This option fits herds where commercial producers are interested in receiving EPD on their replacement heifers. Commercial producers must also be willing and able to collect and submit individual data, along with identifying a sire for each calf through parental validation, single sire pasture exposures, or AI records.

• Every dam is enrolled on inventory for a *$500 whole-herd fee/year. If your annual service fee is already paid, the whole-herd fee/year is *$390.00

*If your herd is new to the database, other fees could apply, call to discuss your options

• Age-dependent calf registration fees
• Under 10 months of age = $42.00
• 10 to 15 months of age = $52.00
• Over 15 months of age = $62.00
• Performance-based EPD returned on heifers, regardless if they are registered or reported.  There will also be average group EPD reported on the steers. NO EPD will be displayed on bull calves.