Genetics – Bred Beef Heifers

2025-2026 TAEP Application A

50% Cost Share – Maximum Reimbursement - $2,000

The amount of payment is based upon 50% of expenses incurred for eligible program items up to the program maximum.

Applicant Responsibility

It is the applicant’s responsibility to review all TAEP program requirements prior to applying for cost share. Applicant must qualify for program selected at time of application to be considered for approval.

Applicant Eligibility
Educational Requirements
Reimbursement Requirements
Verification Requirements
Applying for TAEP

Minimum Requirements

Cattle – 30 head

Applicant must meet minimum requirement of head of livestock for program.
Head of Livestock = maximum number of single type, regardless of sex or age, at any one time during the last 12 months.
Verification of minimum requirements may be requested prior to approval.

Eligible Items & Requirements – Print Version

Eligible Items

Buyer must communicate with the seller prior to purchasing to ensure the bred beef heifer meets all TAEP eligibility requirements. Bred beef heifers that do not meet all eligibility requirements between October 1, 2025 and date of purchase will be denied cost share reimbursement.

1. Bred beef heifers – $500 per heifer

Qualifications
1. Stewardship Information — Producer Affidavit required
    a. Official USDA permanent identification - heifers must be individually and permanently identified with 840 EID or metal tag, breed registry brand or tattoo (breed registry tattoo only)
    b. Ownership — seller name, address, and phone number
    c. Sale Information — price and sale date
    d. Age - maximum of 28 months at time of purchase
    e. Service Sire (AI or natural) — heifers must be bred to a bull that meets the required Calving Ease Direct (CED) Genomic Enhanced EPD (GE-EPD) for TAEP Bred Beef Heifer Service Sire. AI bred to a high accuracy calving ease sire is recommended.

2. Preventative Health — Producer Affidavit required
Must be vaccinated with two rounds of the following vaccines:
    a. Respiratory: IBR, BVD, PI3, BRSV. Recommended — fetal protection (FP)
    b. Blackleg: 7-way Clostridial
    c. Reproductive: Lepto. Recommended — Lepto HB

3. Current & Reproductive Health — Veterinarian Affidavit required
    a. Official USDA permanent identification
    b. Veterinarian name, clinic, and phone number
    c. Test negative for BVD-PI; lab results required
    d. Size — heifer must be a minimum of 800 pounds at pregnancy exam
    e. Pregnancy status — list date of pregnancy exam and days pregnant
•   Heifer must be a minimum of 90 days bred at date of purchase
        ° March 1, 2026 is the latest breeding date that 90-day pregnancy could be verified by a June 1, 2026 sale date (June 1, 2026 reimbursement deadline)
•   Exception granted to heifers already nursing first (1st) calf. Veterinarian Affidavit still required – Vet must verify current health status of both heifer & calf.
        ° Sire of Calf must meet Service Sire CED GE-EPD requirements

Requirements
1. Producer Affidavit and pedigrees — form(s) must be completed by seller
    a. Service Sire(s) — must attach pedigree(s) with GE-EPDs and pedigree print date for service sires

FY2025-2026 – GE-Bred Beef Heifer – Service Sire CED minimum by breed – not currently available

2. Veterinarian Affidavit — form(s) must be completed by veterinarian
    a. BVD-PI — negative lab test results must be included with form

•   Affidavit forms are available by emailing livestock.genetics@tn.gov. Forms are also available from Tennessee licensed veterinarians and included in TAEP Genetics reimbursement packet.
•   Affidavits allow up to four (4) heifers with consistent management and breeding to be listed on each form. List all IDs, birth date range, and range of days pregnant.

Reimbursement Request Deadline – June 1, 2026

Allowable purchase dates for Genetics are from October 1, 2025 – June 1, 2026.
All items, regardless of backorder status, must be purchased (paid in full or financed) by the program reimbursement deadline. Backordered items may be ineligible for cost share if not delivered to the farm by the program deadline.