Angus HeiferSELECT

Developed in Australia, by Australians, for use in Australian Angus cattle. Suitable for straightbred Angus cattle (87.5% Angus content or greater).

Angus HeiferSELECT is a genomic selection tool to help inform the selection of Angus replacement females (87.5% Angus content or greater) in a commercial beef breeding operation.

Angus HeiferSELECT complements other sources of information that may be used in commercial replacement heifer selection, such as phenotypic evaluation, age, weight and pedigree information, and provides valuable insight into the genetic potential of heifers, particularly for traits that are otherwise difficult, time consuming or expensive to measure using traditional methods.

Angus HeiferSELECT provides:

  • Genetic predictions for eight (8) cow-calf traits: birth weight, weaning weight, yearling weight, milk, mature cow weight, mature body condition, mature cow height & docility.
  • Genetic predictions for four (4) carcase traits: carcase weight, eye muscle area, rib fat, MSA marbling.
  • Genetic prediction for total value balances 7 traits that have an impact on growth, carcase attributes and maternal factors. Traits included and assigned emphasis: Birth Weight (2%), Weaning Weight (14%), Yearling Weight (12%), Mature Cow Weight (5%), Carcase Weight (30%), Milk (7%), MSA Marbling (30%).
  • Angus BreedCHECK – genomic breed composition prediction. Animals with a breed content of 87.5% or greater are assigned as Angus, between 50% to 87.5% breed content are assigned as Angus-Cross and animals with a breed content of less than 50% of Angus are recorded as non-Angus.
  • Sire assignment – For progeny of sires who are registered with Angus Australia and have genomic profiles stored on the Angus Australia genomic database

An update on how HeiferSELECT is reported occurred in October 2025 and the results have moved from being reported on a 0-100 scoring system to being reported on a quintile basis (20, 40, 60, 80, 100).

Angus HeiferSELECT is compatible with add-on BVDV testing, facilitating the identification of animals persistently infected with Bovine Virus Diarrhoea Virus (also known as Bovine Pestivirus).

Angus HeiferSELECT has been developed in Australia, by Australians, for use in Australian Angus cattle.

You can order Angus HeiferSELECT through Angus Australia (Angus Membership required) or directly from Neogen.

Getting Ready

Before ordering Angus HeiferSELECT tests, you should:

  • Obtain an Angus HeiferSELECT Order Form, available under the ‘Forms’ tab on this page.
  • Obtain DNA sample collection kits. Allflex Tissue Sampling Units are most commonly used and can be ordered from Neogen Australasia. While discouraged, tail hair samples can also be used. Tail hair collector kits can be ordered from Angus Australia.
  • Ensure that a DNA profile is recorded with Angus Australia for the sires of any heifers for which you wish to obtain DNA sire identification.

Ordering Angus HeiferSELECT Tests

  • Once you have collected DNA samples, complete the Angus HeiferSELECT order form and follow the instructions for posting the samples and submitting the required paperwork.

Results Availability

  • If you have ordered via Angus Australia your results will be made available via the Angus Tech website under ‘Download Files’.
  • If you order direct via Neogen your results will be emailed directly to you.
Genomic testing of cattle is most commonly conducted using Allflex Tissue Sampling Units (TSUs). Here’s how to collect samples – Tissue DNA Collection

Angus HeiferSELECT facilitates superior decisions to be made when managing the genetics in a commercial Angus beef breeding enterprise.

Selecting Replacement Females
Identify females who possess genetics that are most aligned with your breeding objective, and who are the most suitable to retain as replacement heifers.

Culling Decisions
Identify females that are genetically inferior and who are the best choice for culling.

Inform Bull Purchasing Decisions
Utilise results from heifers tested with Angus HeiferSELECT to better understand the genetics in your herd, and identify the priorities for your next bull purchasing decision.

Understanding Bull Reproductive Performance
Use sire information to identify those bulls in your sire team that have produced low numbers of progeny and remove these bulls from your breeding program.

Management of Inbreeding
Use sire information to avoid inbreeding and the associated depression in performance.

Marketing Opportunities
Utilise results from heifers tested with Angus HeiferSELECT to help inform commercial marketing opportunities of surplus heifers or future steer progeny.

Compatible with BVDV Testing
Add-on BVDV testing facilitates the identification of animals persistently infected with Bovine Virus Diarrhoea Virus (also known as Bovine Pestivirus).

Angus HeiferSELECT has been developed in Australia, by Australians, for use in Australian Angus cattle.

Angus HeiferSELECT genetic predictions are calculated based on analysis of Angus Australia’s extensive genomic and phenotypic database. Collated over many years, this database combines the DNA profiles of Australian Angus animals with comprehensive performance measurements collected in Australian beef production systems.

Modern scientific knowledge enables the association between the DNA profiles and performance measurements to be analysed, and genetic predictions to be calculated from the DNA profiles of the heifers tested with Angus HeiferSELECT.

Through utilisation of Angus Australia’s genomic and phenotypic database, Angus HeiferSELECT provides accurate genetic predictions for the selection of Australian Angus females.

A copy of the Angus HeiferSelect Traits definitions can be found here Angus HeiferSelect Traits Definitions as well in the Angus HeiferSELECT Info Sheet in the Customer Resources tab.

Angus HeiferSELECT is suitable for straight-bred, commercial Angus females (greater than or equal to 87.5% Angus content). Results will be reported for animals with at least 50% Angus breed content, but results are more reliable for animals with a breed content of 87.5% Angus or greater.

Angus HeiferSELECT test is not suitable for commercial females that are not straight-bred Angus, females that have been previously recorded with Angus Australia, such as females recorded on the HBR, APR, ACR or MBR registers, or males.

  • If you have ordered via Angus Australia your results will be made available via the Angus Tech website under ‘Download Files’.
  • If you order direct via Neogen your results will be in the same format as those provided by Angus but emailed directly to you.

DNA sire identification is available as part of Angus HeiferSELECT providing the sires are registered with Angus Australia and have a genomic profile available.

In many cases, a genomic (DNA) profile will have previously been recorded with Angus Australia for your sires (by the breeder or a previous owner) and can be used to conduct the DNA sire identification component of the Angus HeiferSELECT testing. Details of whether a DNA profile is stored for each registered sire can be viewed on the Angus Database Search facility on the Angus Australia website.

If a genomic profile has not previously been recorded, you can collect a DNA sample for the sire and request a genomic profile from Angus Australia. DNA test request forms are available from the Angus Australia website.

DNA tests can only be ordered for animals that you own, and so you will need to ensure that all registered bulls have been transferred into your ownership on the Angus Australia database prior to requesting the genomic profile.

Interim results confirm animals that are 87.5% or higher Angus content as Angus, below 87.5% but higher than 50% Angus content as AngusCross and 50% or less Angus as non-Angus.