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A. 2011 Cattle Genetics


2012 Program Information Will Be Posted by April 1, 2012

Livestock Minimum Requirements
 Property
Premises Registration
Certifications
Cost Share
$1,200 Maximum
Cattle - 30 Head*
(BQA Required)
Owned or Leased
Required
BQA - Beef & Cattle
Standard 35%
Master 50%

                *Head is the actual number of cattle regardless of age or sex at date of application.

PROGRAM GOALS: Increase the marketability and reputation of Tennessee's cattle
FY11-12 EPD Requirements and Dairy LNM or Index Requirements

Application Period
CLOSED

Reimbursement Deadline
May 1, 2012
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 two successive 90 day
        breeding seasons - not in the same year
    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 (moved from Livestock Equipment)
    b. Purchase of semen from eligible AI sires
        • Semen packages - max. reimbursement $15 per straw
    c. Supplies
        • 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
    c. EID Tags - only for cattle being tested
  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)
    c. Heifer bulls (improved calving ease with acceptable growth and maternal)
    Each bull type (Balanced, Terminal or Heifer 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, 2011 to be eligible for reimbursement
  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, 2011 to be eligible for reimbursement
  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 request
  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. Animals must be officially identified in one of the following ways: EID, 840 or USDA metal tag,
       or a unique brand or tattoo
    c. Veterinarian testing report 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 cattle .genetics@TN.gov
Eligibility
Requirements 		Application
Rules 		Application A
Materials 		Premises Registration