Skip to Content

Cattle Genetics

 

Livestock Minimum Requirements
 Property
Premises Registration
Certifications
Cost Share
$1,200 Maximum
Cattle - 30 Head
Owned or Leased
Required
BQA - Beef & Cattle
Standard 35%
Master 50%
Head of livestock = maximum number of single type, regardless of age or sex,
at one time during the last 12 months.
Producers who qualify for both Cattle and Goats/Sheep can only receive
$1200 total reimbursement, with $350 maximum allowed for Goats/Sheep.

 

PROGRAM GOALS: Increase the marketability, longevity and reputation of Tennessee's cattle
2013 EPD and Dairy LNM or Index Requirements will be posted by July 1, 2013.

Application Period
June 1 - June 7, 2013

Reimbursement Deadline
May 1, 2014
GUIDELINES: use application A to apply - pages 15 - 16 in printed application, application A instructions
Eligible Items
      1. Bulls (natural service)
        a. Purchased bulls - ownership must be maintained for a min. of 15 months
        b. Leased bulls - terms of lease - min. of 60 days up to one year
            • Max. lease reimbursement - $400
      2. Artificial Insemination (AI)
        a. Semen tanks
        b. Purchase of semen from eligible AI sires
            • Semen packages - max. reimbursement $15 per straw
        c. Supplies & Equipment
            • Estrus synchronization
            • Heat detection - computerized systems not eligible
            • AI kit, contents and sanitation supplies
            • Liquid nitrogen fills
        d. AI technician fees - mileage not eligible
        e. AI training certification - max. reimbursement $200
      3. Testing - mileage not eligible
        a. Breeding soundness evaluation (BSE)
        b. Pregnancy testing
2013 EPD and Dairy LNM or Index Requirements will be posted by July 1, 2013.
    1. Beef - AI and/or natural service bulls must meet or exceed the min. requirements for one of the following three bull types:
      a. Balanced bulls (balance of good calving ease, growth and maternal)
      b. Terminal bulls (improved growth with acceptable calving ease; maternal not required) for use     on mature cows
      c. Calving ease bulls (improved calving ease with acceptable growth and maternal)
      Each bull type (Balanced, Terminal or Calving ease bull) has a different set of EPD requirements - the required set of EPD's must be met for each of the following three EPD trait categories:
          • Calving ease (CE or BW)
          • Growth (WW or YW)
          • Maternal (Milk range)
      EPD values must be current as of June 1, 2013
    2. Dairy - AI and/or natural service bulls must meet or exceed the min. requirements for one of the following two trait categories
      a. Lifetime Net Merit (LNM)
      b. Breed index (ex. TPI for Holstein / JPI for Jersey)
      LNM or Index values must be current as of June 1, 2013
    3. Breeding Soundness Evaluation (BSE)
      a. Bulls must pass a BSE - certificate from a licensed veterinarian must be included with
          reimbursement request
      b. BSE must be dated within 90 days of purchase or reimbursement
    4. Electronic Identification (EID) - 15 digit number
      a. Producer will identify bull with an electronic identification tag and provide number to TDA
      b. Tags can be purchased at most farm supply stores or local veterinarian
    5. Artificial Insemination (AI)
      a. Cost of AI technicians or Tennessee licensed veterinarian fees are eligible - AI technicians
          must be certified by an accredited AI company
      b. Producers certified to do AI through an accredited program (e.g., Genex, ABS or Select
          Sires, etc) can do their own AI work – Producer labor is not reimbursable
    6. AI Certification
      a. Training must be sponsored by an AI company that is a member of the National Association
          of Animal Breeders (NAAB) and follows the recommended guidelines
      b. Min. of two days training required - part of which must be in a classroom environment
    7. Testing
      a. BSE & pregnancy testing - must be performed by a Tennessee licensed veterinarian
      b. Veterinarian testing record with individual animal ID must be submitted for reimbursement
Ineligible Items
    1. Producer time and labor for AI work will not be reimbursed
    2. Embryo transfer
    3. Herd evaluation
    4. AI registration certificates
    5. Mileage, transportation and delivery expenses
    6. Computerized heat detection systems
    7. Carcass ultrasounding
For additional information call 1-800-342-8206 or email livestock.genetics@TN.gov
Eligibility
Requirements 		Application
Rules 		Application A
Materials 		Premises Registration