Commercial producers with Angus-based cow herds can access a new value-added marketing option with the GeneMax®-enhanced Genetic Merit Scorecard® (GMS) from AngusLink®.
This connection serves as another way for producers to set themselves apart in the marketplace, says Troy Marshall, director of commercial industry relations for the American Angus Association®.
GeneMax Advantage is a genetic test for high-percentage commercial Angus females, and the GMS is a valued-added marketing tool that objectively describes the performance potential of a group of feeder calves. Each is powered by the Association’s database, the industry’s largest genetic database, with product research and intelligence managed by Angus Genetics, Inc. (AGI®).
“The GMS has already proven to be exceptionally accurate, but building values to represent the cow herd side [of the scorecard’s calculations] naturally took time,” Marshall says. “GeneMax speeds up the process, so the latest update to the GMS is about improving it further. The more precise the GMS becomes, the more value it creates for the entire industry.”
He says GeneMax Advantage has also built itself a reputation as a reliable tool. Recent improvements have included adding five dollar value indexes ($Values) to test results on individuals as well as scores for five additional traits: Functional Longevity (FL), Teat Size (Teat), Udder Suspension (UDDR), Hair Shed (HS), and Pulmonary Arterial Pressure (PAP). The $Values on the test are directly comparable to the $Values of registered Angus bulls, making it the practical choice to test commercial heifers out of registered Angus bulls. It also includes Sire Match™ services, which provides sire parentage for tested daughters of registered and HD 50K or Angus GS-tested bulls.
What’s required
To qualify for the GeneMax-enhanced scorecard, 10% or more of a producer’s cow herd must be tested. The standard requirements for enrolling a calf crop in the GMS program also still apply. Those include Age and Source verification through IMI Global, a division of Where Food Comes From; the cow herd breed composition for the calves being enrolled; and a list of sire registration numbers. Sires must be predominantly (50% or more) registered Angus.
“Having an additional source of information brings more precision to the calculation, but the logic behind the scorecard is still the same,” says Rafael Medeiros, geneticist with AGI. “The scores of GeneMax-tested cows will be considered in the cow side of the equation — on a scale that matches the percentage of your cow herd that’s been tested — to calculate that calf crop’s GMS. This added transparency and credibility makes your marketing even stronger, helping buyers recognize the depth of your genetic investment.”
During the American Angus Association’s fiscal year 2025, AngusLink premiums averaged $20.92 per hundredweight (cwt.). Medeiros and Marshall agree this new scorecard option is an extension of efforts by the Association and AGI to help commercial producers both make genetic progress in their herds and help them get paid for it on sale day.
There is no additional cost for the connection. The only cost for receiving a GeneMax-enhanced GMS is the regular cost of GeneMax testing at $28 per female and typical AngusLink enrollment costs, which include the expense of Age and Source verification.
To signal interest in the enhanced scorecard, producers check a box indicating they have tested with GeneMax Advantage when completing the AngusLink enrollment form. To begin an enrollment, producers can contact the AngusLink team at anguslink.com or 816-383-5100. To begin GeneMax testing, visit www.GeneMaxAngus.com and place an order, or complete the “Talk to a Rep about GeneMax” form on the webpage.
Improving GMS scores
A frequently asked question about the GMS from users is, “How can I improve my scores?” Medeiros says this connection provides an efficient path for doing that.
“Producers of all sizes have found success with GeneMax Advantage,” he says. “Because GeneMax delivers results on individual animals, you can make selection and breeding decisions with greater precision and have a greater effect on genetic merit within a shorter period. The sooner you begin, the sooner you’ll see the advantages of integrating GeneMax data into your marketing strategy.”
The scorecard values range from 0 to 200, with the industry average being 100. The higher the score, the greater the genetic merit of the calves. Medeiros says the effect of adding GeneMax scores depends on the genetic quality of a herd.
The more cows you test, the greater the impact GeneMax data will have on your Genetic Merit Scorecard scores, Marshall adds.
“Testing a higher percentage of females adds more detail and insight, giving buyers a clearer view of your herd’s genetic potential,” he says. “By incorporating GeneMax Advantage insights into selection and mating decisions, you can really accelerate the rate of genetic improvement within your herd.”
Marshall says this enhancement brings full circle the suite of tools designed in partnership with AGI for the the American Angus Association to benefit commercial cattlemen.
“We can always get better,” he says. “Once you’ve selected the right bulls, GeneMax Advantage offers the most accurate heifer selection tool available, allowing you to build and describe a cow herd that aligns with your goals. After establishing the right genetics, the focus shifts to capturing their value — marketing your feeder cattle in a way that reflects their true worth. AngusLink has transformed that process. It is the most recognized and trusted method for conveying the genetic merit of commercial feeder cattle.”
