Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to participate in Total Herd Reporting (THR) if I become a Member?

Yes, active members (junior or regular) with active females more than 16 months of age are required to participate in THR and report data on each active cow each year. This includes reporting open cows, cows with commercial or dead calves and cows with registered calves.

Do I have to record calves that I just sold commercially or do not want to register?

Yes, any calves (dead, alive and commercial) out of active registered females must be recorded as compute (non-registered). This keeps the active cow in good standing.

Does the RAAA accept calves that are not 100% Angus and red?

Yes, RAAA is an open herd book. Any calves with at least one registered parent can be registered in our association regardless of breed. If parent(s) is registered in a different breed association, staff can import that animal’s information and create a profile for them to be listed on the pedigree. The one time fee for importing animals is $40 per animal requested. Contact the registration department for further information.

How are animal categories determined?

Categories are determined by disqualifying features in comparison to the ideal 100% Red Angus animal.

• Category 1A: 100% Angus, Red, Polled, with all required data recorded.
• Category 1B: 87-99.9% Angus, Red, Polled, with all required data recorded.
• Category 2: Disqualifying features (see page 12-14 of rules & regulations), missing data, 51-100% Angus.
• Category 3: Less than 87% Angus (foundation cattle).

How long do I have to record my calves?

You have about 18 months from the beginning of each calving season (January 1st and July 1st) to record the year’s calf crop. Calves are DUE no later than May the following year for spring calvers and October the following year for fall calvers of the following year.

• Example: If your registered female calves Feb. 3, 2023, this calf record is due by May 2024.

What are the education resources available to me as a member?

We offer several options for members for help reporting data, education, and more! Some of our resources include:

• Red Angus Alley: Schedule a free one-on-one appointment with our registration department staff for personalized help recording data, managing your herd and account, or learning more about the association or database.
• New Member Orientation: New and current members are invited to take this free, virtual class that gives an overview of the association as a whole and what is offered to members in each department. Contact the membership department for details on the next new member orientation.
• Interactive Tutorials: These tutorials can help members using the REDspro database. These tutorials are downloadable in various formats and available in several languages!

What are the fees associated with Registration and Transfer?

Fee information can be found here.

What are the permanent identification requirements?

Tattoos are the preferred form of permanent identification and are considered a lifetime identifier of the animal. The tattoo must include:

• The animal ID assigned to the animal by the individual operation. Animal IDs may be up to six digits and can include numbers and letters.
• The prefix of the first owner on file. The herd prefix may be up to five characters, can include numbers and letters, but must end in a letter.

The tattoo can be presented in the following ways:

• Animal ID and herd prefix may be present in either one ear or both ears.
  • Prefix can be presented in one ear, while animal ID may be presented in the other.
  • Animal ID and herd prefix may be presented in the same ear stacked one on top of the other.

Other permanent ID options:

• Lip tattoo, if ear(s) are unfit – Including the animal ID and prefix.
• Brand – Freeze and hot-iron brands can be used as permanent identification and is considered a lifetime identifier of the animal.
  • The brand must include the animal ID and herd prefix. Location of brand is at the discretion of the individual operation.
• 840 series EID – EID can be used as official identification if used in conjunction with a secondary identifier:
  • DNA sample on file
  • Tattoo (Animal ID and prefix)
  • Brand (Animal ID and prefix)
  • Dangle tag (Animal ID and prefix)

What are the reports that are sent out each year?

• Herd Inventory reports: This is a list of active animals sent out at the beginning of the inventory season to ensure that all of those animals are active and producing for the upcoming season. All females listed on the active inventory by the herd inventory due date will be billed the THR assessment for the year.
  • Spring calving – list is sent out in January and due the first week of March.
  • Fall calving – list is sent out in July and due the first week of September.
• Birth and Weaning reports: To record all calf data for active cows for the current year.
  • Spring calving –requested in August (around weaning time) and due in May one week prior to inactivation
  • Fall calving – requested in March (around weaning time) and due October one week prior to inactivation
• No Progeny Reporting: This report shows cows without calving data recorded for the previous year and are at risk of inactivation. It is important to look at this report because if not taken care of, the cows will fall inactive.
  • Spring calving – sent out in January and due the first week of March.
  • Fall calving – sent out in July and due the first week of September.
• Inactivation Report: This report shows cows that never had previous year’s data submitted that have fallen inactive and are subject to reactivation fees.
  • Spring Inactivations happen at the end of May for the previous year’s calf crop (ex: Spring 2023 inactivations will happen May 2024)
  • Fall Inactivations happen at the end of October for the previous year’s calf crop (ex: Fall 2023 inactivations will happen October 2024)
• Heifer exposure report: This report requests indication on if your heifers were exposed or not and the dates they were exposed. This is not a mandatory report, but highly recommended as it provides data for the Heifer Pregnancy EPD calculation.
  • Spring heifers – requested in January and can be submitted any time. Recommended due date is in November.
  • Fall heifers – requested in July and can be submitted any time. Recommended due date is in April.

What do the different registration types mean?

Registration types indicate the Registered status of an animal. Anything other than an (R) or (I) status cannot be transferred or have registration certificates printed.

• (R) Registered - animal is registered and no additional information is required
• (I) Incomplete - animal is registered, weaning weight has not been recorded and the calf is less than a year old. This status will automatically change to R after the calf is a year old.
• (C) Compute - This animal is not registered and has only been recorded to satisfy THR reporting requirements.
• (F) Foreign - This animal has been imported from another association and is not registered. These animals are considered foundation animals and can be the sire or dam to registered progeny.
• (U) Genetic Defect Hold- This animal is on hold and needs DNA testing for a genetic defect.
• (Z) Parent DNA required - This animal is on hold due to missing DNA on a required parent. All sires (regardless of mating type) and all donor dams are required to have DNA on file.
• (B) Pedigree Exclusion - This animal is on hold status because its DNA is excluded from one or more parent(s) listed on their pedigree.

What if I have questions or need help reporting my data?

Feel free to call us at 940-387-3502, Ext. 1, email at data@redangus.org or sign up for a free one-on-one appointment through our Red Angus Alley.

What information is needed to register an animal?

Basic birth information is needed to register an animal, such as dam and sire information, birth date, sex, twin code, mating type, coat color, HPS code, etc. For ET calves, the flush date is required to be entered.

Detailed registration requirements can be found in the Rules and Regulations.

What is THR (Total Herd Reporting)?

Total Herd Reporting (THR) is required by the Red Angus Association of America in order to collect data to improve our breed and enhance the accuracy of EPDs. THR is required on all active females more than 16 months of age. THR requires that members submit data on each cow, each year. Each cow must have a calf (alive, dead or commercial) recorded or a reason code reported if the cow did not calve.

Where can I find a copy of the official Red Angus Association of America Breeder's Guide (Rules and Regulations)?

The RAAA Breeder's Guide can be found under the Herd Management or by clicking here.

Can I use tags from a previous years FCCP order?

Yes. However, you must first enroll your current calf crop to use those tags. Call (940) 387-3502 to enroll your calf crop.

Do I have to be a Member to use the Feeder Calf Certification Program (FCCP)?

No. Call RAAA at 940-320-8316 to go through a short Supplier Enrollment Process over the phone for qualification in the FCCP.

Does it cost anything to use the Red Angus Stockyard?

The Red Angus Stockyard is free of charge. We ask that you include registration numbers if submitting a registered listing.

How do I add my sale to the RAAA Calendar of Events?

Submit your Red Angus event here.

How do I send out an eBlast?

Fill out this online form and RAAA will be in contact with you shortly. Check out the eBlast flyer for pricing details.

Annual membership dues are $125, but on my July statement it shows dues as $95 and the magazine portion $30. Is it possible to not receive a copy of the magazine and just pay the $95?

No, the dues are $125 and the magazine portion is nonnegotiable, the breakdown is for accounting and IRS purposes. You may however opt out of receiving the monthly magazine.

Can I keep a card/echeck information on file to be automatically billed?

Due to different security reasons, we do not store credit card or account and routing number information. This is also due to the fact that most billing is on an as work is done basis. To make payments you will need to add that information each time on REDSpro, calling to pay over the phone, or sending a check in the mail.

Do I have to participate in Total Herd Reporting (THR) if I become a Member?

Yes, active members (junior or regular) with active females more than 16 months of age are required to participate in THR and report data on each active cow each year. This includes reporting open cows, cows with commercial or dead calves and cows with registered calves.

How am I billed throughout the year?

Annual membership dues are billed automatically in July for all membership types and calving seasons. THR billing is assessed in July for females marked as spring calving and December for females marked as fall calving. Accounts with 11 or less active females on inventory will see a one time bill for THR. Whereas, accounts with more than 11 active females on inventory will see THR billing broken up into 4 installments. Other billing such as DNA or data processing fees are billed at the time the service is rendered. Please reference the Fee Sheet for a breakdown of Association fees.

How do I close my account?

An account inactivation request is required in writing. Please send an email to our membership department or a letter to 18335 E 103rd Ave. Suite 202 Commerce City, CO 80022, including your account number and a brief note requesting to inactivate your account.

How do I pay my bill?

There are several options for members to pay their bill:

• Paying online: Members can make a payment through their REDSpro account using a credit card, or echeck. For information on how to pay your bill online, click here. 
• Over the phone: Please call our membership department at 940-387-3502 ext. 7 to pay over the phone with a credit card or echeck.
• By check: please address checks to the Red Angus Association and mail to our office; if using this option please include your account number so that the payment gets posted to the correct account.

How do I view the billing history on my account?

Please click here to view a tutorial on how to view your billing history.

What do I do if I forgot my password for REDSPro?

You can click the ‘Forgot password’ link to reset your password when logging in and an email link will be sent to the email on file. You can also contact the Member Services Department for password retrieval.

What is 1st 25% of THR on my billing statement?

Accounts with 11 animals or more on THR, are billed in four monthly installments. The first and second installment being the same, and third and fourth installment being the same. Members can pay all four installments at any time, to find the amount of full THR: (#) of animals on inventory X 28.00 = full THR amount.

What is a herd prefix?

A herd prefix is a combination of up to 5 letters and numbers, but must end in a letter (ex. 1234A, 1A, or 12B). This prefix is unique to each individual account and is applied to each new animal registered under that account as a means to identify the first owner of that animal.

Where do I sign up to become a Member of the Red Angus Association of America?

You may sign up and pay online here:
Regular Membership
Junior Membership
Associate Membership

You can also find the paper application to print off here.

Where do I find information on the National Red Angus Open & Junior Shows?

Learn more about Red Angus shows here.

Do I have to DNA test my calves in order to register them?

No, in fact we recommend registering calves prior to DNA testing so that DNA results can be connected to a registration number. Animals required for DNA testing are below.

How do I submit DNA?

You can submit DNA via blood, tissue, or hair samples. Find info here or contact the DNA department at 940-387-3502 ext. 8 or dna@redangus.org.

What are the DNA testing requirements for Red Angus?

DNA is required in the following instances:

• All sires (AI, Natural Service/Pasture, ET) must have a DNA sample on file for parentage.
• All donor dams must have a DNA sample on file for parentage.
• Calves from parents with genetic defect carriers in the pedigree must have DNA for the specific genetic defect(s) submitted for testing.
• Calves entered in RAAA Regional or National shows. See list of shows here.

Click here for more information on DNA Testing Requirements