American Brahman Breeders Association (ABBA)

American Brahman Breeders Association Interface with CattleMax

As a registered plan CattleMax customer and member of the American Brahman Breeders Association, you can save yourself time and effort by using the following features.  

• Import your breed association cattle records into CattleMax
• Sync the association data with your animals in CattleMax who have matching registration numbers
• Register your calves with the association after adding the calf to CattleMax
• Update herd EPDs

The Herd Inventory file or Herd Extract is a copy of your active registered cattle records, 3 generation pedigrees, current EPDs, and current performance information as previously submitted to the association. 

The EPD or Performance file contains a current copy of your registered animals’ EPDs and is commonly downloaded when new EPDs are released by the Association.

Important Items to Note:

If importing records, please wait until the import process is complete before entering any records into your CattleMax Online account.

Do not open any files from the association before importing them into CattleMax, as this will likely lead to information being imported incorrectly.  If you have opened it, please re-download the file and start the process with the re-downloaded file.

If you cannot see the option for entering a registration number on an individual animal, please update your account settings. (Customizing CattleMax / Account Settings - click here.)

How do I obtain the file from the Breed Association for import into CattleMax?

The American Brahman Breeders Association asks that you as the member contact and request the herd inventory file direct from the association.

Please contact the Breed Association to request a copy of your herd inventory file for import into CattleMax. You will need to provide your Breed Association membership number and know you will be charged $25 for this file download.

I have the unopened herd file. Now what?

1. Open your CattleMax account.
2. Click on the Cattle tab at the top > View All Groups and Interfaces.
3. Choose your breed association name from under the Breed Interfaces section or if you do not see it here then you need to set-up the respective breed interface in CattleMax. Enabling Breed Association Interfaces - click here.
4. Be sure to notice the file format. To import properly, your file must be in the format shown in CattleMax.
5. Click browse (in the Import Herd Inventory section) then select the file you saved to your computer (NOTE: Do not import a file that has been opened.)
6. When available, consider using the Sync feature by placing a checkmark next to Sync. (See details below regarding this feature.)
7. Click Import Animals to finish the task.

NOTE: If importing records, please wait until the import is complete before entering any records into your CattleMax Account. If you do happen to have cattle already in the account, be sure each of those registered animals has the correct registration number entered in CattleMax to match the import registration number.

I already have cattle in my CattleMax account. How do I use the Sync option?

The Sync option is available to allow adding new animal records to the CattleMax herd data or completing/updating current animal records (such as pedigree, performance, etc.). CattleMax will match registration numbers for the file to be imported, so it is important the registration numbers in your CattleMax herd file EXACTLY match your breed association records.

While your association may use letter prefixes as part of the animal registration number in their database, they may not consider that prefix part of the animal’s official registration number.  Therefore, the association may drop the letter prefix in their file for import into CattleMax.  Be sure any animals you already have in your CattleMax account have their registration number entered accordingly prior to import to prevent duplication of animal records.

How do I submit a new calf registration file from CattleMax to the Breed Association?

The calves eligible for registration will be shown when you go to the Cattle tab > View All Groups and Interfaces > choose your breed association name.  Only calves that do not have any data in the Registration # line will appear for review on this form.

If there are errors (information missing from the calf record which the association requires), there will be an Error noted rather than the checkbox. To correct the Error(s), click Edit to be shown what is missing or in error on that record. Once the information is completed, the checkbox will then appear for your use.

You can select the calves you want to submit for registration by checking the box beside their ID, or if you want to submit all, check the box in the header.  Once everything is correct and you are ready to submit/upload to your breed association, click the Download Electronic Registration File of Selected Animals button at the bottom then save the file to your computer desktop for easy access. 

You will then attach this calf registration file to an email to be sent to the association through the following email address jwmask@brahman.org attention Joe Mask.

I sent the new calf registration file to the Breed Association. How do I import Calf Crop EPDs?

The Importing of Calf Crop EPDs is a process done after calves are recorded or weaning/yearling/ultrasound information is processed.  A Calf Crop EPD file contains only animals within that crop, as opposed to the entire herd. The Calf Crop EPD process imports registration numbers for calves who do not yet have their registration number imported, updates adjusted weights and contemporaries, and also updates EPDs.

When you have used the CattleMax interface to upload registrations to your breed association, you will then be able to download and import into CattleMax the registration numbers along with any EPDs and performance data for the newly registered calves.  Once you have been notified your calf registrations are complete, you will need to download the file for import.

Your Calf Crop EPD file can be accessed from your ABBA Enhanced Member Login page. If you do not see the Calf Crop EPD Update button, contact ABBA to ensure that your account has been flagged as a “PC User”.

After clicking the Calf Crop EPD Update button, you will be directed to a screen showing one or more files. From this screen, click the file named nnnn_EPDS.DAT or nnnn_EPDS.DAT and save this file to your computer. Depending on your web browser, you can right-click and choose “Save File As” or “Save Target As” to save this file to your desktop.

After you have the unopened file from the association downloaded to your computer, open your CattleMax account > click the Cattle tab > View All Groups and Interfaces > your association > Import EPDs > Browse > choose the Calf Registration file from the association saved on your computer > Import EPDs.

How do I update my Herd EPDs in CattleMax?

The Importing of Herd EPDs is a process done after a new sire summary is released.  A Herd EPD file contains all animals within the herd, not just the most recently registered calves as in a Calf Crop EPD file. The Herd EPD process imports updated EPDs and optionally imports adjusted weights and other performance data.

The American Brahman Breeders Association allows members to download their own EPD file. See directions below. Your Herd EPD file can be accessed from your ABBA Enhanced Member Login page. If you do not see the Herd EPD Update button, contact ABBA to ensure that your account has been flagged as a “PC User”.

After clicking the Herd EPD Update button, you will be directed to a screen showing one or more files. From this screen, click the file named nnnn_EPDS.DAT or nnnn_EPDS.DAT and save this file to your computer. Depending on your web browser, you can right-click and choose “Save File As” or “Save Target As” to save this file to your desktop.

If you have questions regarding how to obtain this file, please email jwmask@brahman.org attention Joe Mask at the Breed Association.

After you download the unopened EPD file, open your CattleMax account > click on the Cattle tab > View all Groups and Interfaces > your association > Import EPDs > Browse > choose the EPD file saved on your computer > place a checkmark if you want to use the Update Performance feature to import adjusted weights, carcass data, and other performance data > Import EPDs.  NOTE: if you choose to Update Performance, please be aware any performance data already in your CattleMax file will be overwritten.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at howdy@cattlemax.com or 1-800-641-2343 for assistance.