American Hereford Association (AHA)

There are several ways that American Hereford Association members can interface with CattleMax.

Download & Import Herd Extract

AHA can provide an electronic copy of your herd records, called a herd extract.  This file contains all of your active animals, 3-generation pedigrees, EPDs, and performance data.  A herd extract is a fast and easy way to get up-and-running with CattleMax.

If you are going to be using the AHA TPR program, you will need to contact the Hereford Association and let them know before having us request your herd data file.  Please note that CattleMax will request your herd data from the association.

Contact us and be sure to include your name, ranch name, and AHA membership number(s).  After we receive your herd extract from AHA, we will send the file and detailed instructions on how to import the file and whether or not you need to use the Sync option. NOTE: If importing records, please wait until the import process is complete before entering any records into your CattleMax Online account.

Importing your Herd Inventory Extract

After receiving your herd inventory extract from AHA and CattleMax, you'll need to import the file as noted above. Be sure you have selected American Hereford Association as your CattleMax breed interface - enabling-breed-association-interfaces

Then, go to Cattle/View all groups and interfaces, select American Hereford Association under the Breed Interface header.  That will take you to this screen:

Click/touch the Import Herd Extract button, then select the AHA herd inventory extract file as designated.  If you already have animals in your CattleMax herd file, you'll need to read the Important notes on the sync process to determine if you need to use the Sync option.

Click/touch the Import Herd Extract button to complete the process.

Submitting data to AHA

Also, all files containing registrations, inventories, weaning weights, and yearling weights should be emailed to eRecords@hereford.org.

Update Herd EPDs

Import Herd EPD file:

Logon to MyHerd at  www.myherd.org

1. Click on "Reports" then "Performance Reports" in the top menu of the screen.
2. Click on the file named  yourmembernumber_HERDEPDS.DAT.
3. Click on button labeled "Open Completed Report".
4. You should then see a dialog box that allows you to specify a location to save the file on your computer.

You may save the file anywhere you like, but be sure to note the location as you will need to know it in order to import the file into your Herd Management Software system.

5. Close the "Download Complete" dialog window by clicking on the button titled Close.
6. Start CattleMax account, go to Cattle/View all groups and interfaces/American Hereford Association.
7. Click the Import EPDs button in the interface, select the downloaded file from AHA, click Import EPDs.

TPR

1. Importing and Updating Herd Inventories – reconcile inventories for TPR including recording disposal codes
2. Recording Calves (Form 1) – submit calf information for recording/registration and also submit calving ease scores for non-calving cows
3. Import Calf Crop EPD file – import calf registration numbers, adjusted birth weight, birth ratio, and EPDs
4. Submit Weaning (Form 2) – registration numbers must be recorded so calves will appear in the list. Follow the “Import Crop EPD file” link above to import registration numbers.
5. Import Calf Crop EPD file – import adjusted weaning weight, weaning ratio, and EPDs
6. Submit Yearling (Form 3)
7. Import Calf Crop EPD file - import adjusted yearling, yearling ratio, and EPDs

After your information has been submitted and processed by AHA, you will receive an email with a link to download your Crop EPD file or Inventory file.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What if you have multiple owners that are linked at the AHA? Do they need to be separated in CattleMax?

A: AHA will keep ownership of animals based on the ownership info that is at AHA for the dam. If a new calf is to be multiple-owned by different linked accounts, you will need to communicate this as you email the file to us. Just mention who all should own which animals in the file you are sending.

Q: By emailing the exported file from CattleMax do you get charged the electronic fee for registrations?

A: Yes, if the data is submitted electronically.

Q: AHA is starting the new real time online register data system this year. Is CattleMax tied into the new web site?

A: If you are flagged as a PC user at AHA, you will still get download files created that you can import into CattleMax. You will need to download files from the AHA website and import them into CattleMax.

Q: What is the difference between the initial and final TPR inventories?

A: The initial inventory is the starting point to let you know the animals AHA thinks will be on this season’s inventory. Once you send us your update and AHA processes it, we make available a final inventory file that you can import if you like for confirmation of the animals we have enrolled for you for this particular season.

Q: Where do I save the files I download from the AHA website, so I can import them into CattleMax?

A: Create a folder on your computer desktop where you download all of your files, and as you download them just be sure you direct them to that location. That way when you try to import a file, you know where to go and select it from.

Q: I manually added cattle to my CattleMax inventory – do I include the prefix for the registration number (such as P123456).

A: No prefixes such as “P”, etc. should be entered. Only enter the numeric value, as CattleMax looks for numeric values for the registration number to match updated EPDs, performance data, etc.

Q: How do you request EPD updates from AHA?

A: AHA will make available herd EPD updates on all your animals as each new EPD run is released in December and July. Otherwise, crop EPD updates on specific calf-crops are automatically made available as we process new information on your herd, such as weaning weights, etc. There shouldn’t really be any need to request new EPD updates from AHA.

Q: I am new to the TPR/crop process of AHA. What are the basics of the process?

A: Call the AHA office to go over the basics of how the AHA works. They will explain about tracking performance data via calf-crops and starting with herd inventory updates. They can also let you know your options for recording information with AHA.

Q: How do I indicate to transfer an animal on registration?

A: When sending in your registration file to AHA, simply make a note in the email.

Q: I imported my Crop EPD file and my calf registration numbers did not import.

A: CattleMax will import registration numbers for unregistered calves when importing EPD files. CattleMax matches the unregistered calf to the EPD file based on: Birth Date, Tattoo (Left and/or Right), and Dam Reg Number. If any of this information is incomplete, you will need to complete the information and then re-import the file.

Q: What do the percentage numbers stand for in your CattleMax - AHA Interface?