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GeneMax Advantage: The benchmark for genomic testing in commercial Angus cattle.

By Kelli Retallick-Riley, Angus Genetics Inc. President

January 2, 2025

Imagine standing in the middle of your herd, looking out at a group of commercial Angus replacement heifers. Each one represents years of investment, careful breeding and countless hours of work. But how do you know which animals will bring the most value to your operation? Which ones will thrive, produce profitable calves and move your program forward?

For users of registered Angus bulls seeking answers, GeneMax^® Advantage™ is the ultimate tool. This genomic test isn’t just about numbers, it’s about giving you the confidence to make decisions that will shape the future of your herd.

Built on the best

GeneMax Advantage stands apart because it is the only test on the market that harnesses the immense power of the American Angus Association’s database. With genomic predictions derived from up to 1.8 million tested seedstock animals, it provides commercial producers with a direct connection to the world’s most trusted source of Angus genetics.

This isn’t a generic test for all breeds — it’s tailor-made for commercial Angus cattle, giving producers actionable insights rooted in Angus-specific data.

Making tough decisions

GeneMax Advantage provides predictions for 19 individual traits, covering critical maternal, feedlot, carcass and management areas. Recent enhancements include two new traits:

Early summer hair shedding (HS): A must-know for regions where heat and fescue tolerance matter.

Pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP): A lifeline for cattle in high-altitude environments.

When it comes to evaluating your herd, the details matter. Each one of the 19 different trait scores are represented on a clear 1-to-100 scale, with 50 representing the average for the tested commercial Angus population. A higher score typically signals more-favorable genetics for the given trait; though some traits, like maternal milk or mature cow weight, may require fine-tuning to fit your operation’s specific feed resources and environmental conditions.

Table 1: Traits and indexes, along with their acronyms and score definitions, included in GeneMax Advantage

Table 1 lists each one of the individual traits and their definitions that are made available through GeneMax.

But it doesn’t stop there.

Amplified power

One of the most groundbreaking advancements in GeneMax Advantage is its integration of Angus dollar value indexes ($Values), the same metrics used to evaluate registered Angus sires. This means that for the first time, commercial Angus producers can directly compare genomic results of their replacement females to the registered Angus sires they’re considering for purchase.

These five $Values — maternal weaned calf value ($M), grid value ($G), feedlot value ($F), beef value ($B) and combined value ($C) — are powerful tools for evaluating how well your heifers align with your operation’s goals.

This level of direct comparison puts producers in control like never before. By using GeneMax Advantage, you’re not just evaluating your heifers, you’re ensuring that every decision, including bull selection, aligns with your high expectations of the Angus breed.

Benchmarking against the best

One of GeneMax Advantage’s standout features is its ability to benchmark genomic predictions against nearly 120,000 tested commercial Angus replacement heifers. This benchmarking delivers percentile rankings for individual traits, giving producers clear insights into how their animals compare to the historical population. Such comparisons provide confidence and context, enabling producers to make informed decisions to maximize genetic potential.

Solving the parentage puzzle

If you’re like many Angus producers, you’ve faced the challenge of understanding who your effective sires are, especially when using multi-sire pastures or combining artificial insemination (AI) with walking bulls. GeneMax Advantage solves this puzzle seamlessly through SireMatch™.

Without any additional retesting of your herd sire battery, it identifies the sires of each calf, helping you answer key questions:

Which bulls are making the most impact?
Are you avoiding unintended inbreeding?
How efficient is your breeding strategy?

These insights are invaluable for producers managing their breeding systems. They help ensure that every calf is a strategic step forward, not a missed opportunity.

A tool that works as hard as you do

GeneMax Advantage is more than a test; it’s a partner in progress. Built on the American Angus Association’s single-step national cattle evaluation (NCE) in conjunction with partners at Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI) and Zoetis, its predictions capture more genetic variation than ever before. With clearer benchmarks, expanded trait coverage, and $Values that directly align with the seedstock population, it’s designed to help producers like you build better herds.

Confidence meets progress

GeneMax Advantage isn’t just about the here and now. It’s about looking ahead and making decisions today that will lead to stronger, more profitable cattle tomorrow. By combining the power of the Angus database with cutting-edge genomic technology alongside good cowboy logic, it gives producers an edge in an increasingly competitive market.

The story of GeneMax Advantage is the story of Angus genetics: trusted, proven and built for the future. For producers ready to make their next chapter the best one yet, this is the tool to help you get there.

To learn more about GeneMax Advantage, visit our website at https://www.angus.org/agi/commercial.

Editor’s note: Kelli Retallick-Riley is president of AGI. For additional information on performance programs available through the American Angus Association and AGI, visit www.angus.org and select topics under the “Tools & Resources” tab.