GENETIC PROGRAMS

NAAB provides several genetic programs, including the following:

Cross Reference: Maintains the link between AI bull owners and the USDA Animal Improvement Programs Laboratory in order to afford maximum participation in, and to insure accurate information on, the USDA Sire Summary runs.

Stud Codes: Issues stud codes to semen producing organizations for the uniform identification of bull semen throughout the world. The NAAB Uniform Coding system (stud code, breed code and bull number) provides a unique identifying number for bulls in AI service.

Marketing Codes: Issues marketing codes to qualified marketing organizations. The NAAB marketing code can be used in place of the NAAB stud code in the NAAB uniform code on the straw so long as the stud code of the processing organization is also printed on the straw separate from the uniform code and standing alone.

Calving Trait Evaluation: A summary of calving records that rates individual bulls for the expected calving ease/difficulty of their progeny. 

Genetic Defect Record: A list of sires that have been proven to carry genetic defects.

Records in Progress: A program of financial support to dairy record processing centers which provides for dairy cow production records to be transmitted to the United States Department of Agriculture, Science and Education Administration, for inclusion in USDA Sire Summaries.

NAAB Dairy AI Sire Summary Listing: File that includes sires currently designated as active AI sires or foreign sires marketed in the USA by the respective AI organizations. These sires should be readily available through established AI marketing systems. This file is available after each sire evaluation.

CONFERENCES

NAAB holds events on a regular basis including the NAAB Biennial Technical Conference on Artificial Insemination and Reproduction and the NAAB Annual Convention. Symposia, workshops and seminars of interest are conducted as appropriate.

AWARDS PROGRAM

An extensive array of recognition and improvement programs are provided through NAAB.  Awards are presented every other year to individuals for the following:

Distinguished Service Award: long-term distinguished service to the industry

Research Award: long-term valuable AI research

Member Director Award: long-term service as a member of a NAAB member Board of Directors

Pioneer Award: long-term distinguished service to the AI industry

Awards are also issued for persons contributing 25 years or more of service to the AI Industry. Insemination technicians are honored with awards at the benchmarks of 35,000, 100,000, 150,000 and 200,000 first service cows inseminated. Sales representatives are honored with awards at the benchmarks of 250,000, 500,000, 1,000,000 and 1,500,000 unit sales of semen.

MARKETING AND PROMOTION

Domestic

The National Association of Animal Breeders conducts various marketing and promotion programs to expand the use of AI in dairy and beef herds of the U.S.  These include publication of brochures, news releases and special articles.

Each year industry-wide statistics are compiled for domestic, international and custom-frozen beef and dairy semen sales.

International

As a member of the U.S. Livestock Genetics Export, NAAB receives funds from the United States Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service, to develop international markets for bovine semen.  NAAB plays an active role in:

standardization of semen import requirements of other countries
regulatory advice
negotiation of import policies
expansion of product knowledge
publications and advertisements
meetings and seminars
calculation of genetic evaluations
research funding
receptions and exhibits

CERTIFIED SEMEN SERVICES

Certified Semen Services is a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Association of Animal Breeders, the trade association for the Artificial Insemination industry.  Formed in 1976, CSS is an objective auditing service developed by responsible AI industry leaders through NAAB.  CSS provides industry self-regulation.

Not all AI businesses participate in CSS.  Only those businesses which enter into a contract with CSS are eligible to carry the CSS logo in their advertising and on their semen packages.

CSS guidelines call for minimum testing for trichomoniasis, vibriosis (campylobacteriosis), BVD virus, brucellosis, tuberculosis, and leptospirosis.  Also reviewed are sanitation and isolation procedures for bulls and mount animals.

Procedures for identifying semen are reviewed in detail to diminish the chance of semen from one bull being identified as that of another.

AI businesses entering into an agreement with CSS are audited at least once a year.  During this audit, the CSS Service Director determines whether Certified Semen Services' minimum guidelines for health and identification are being complied with.

CSS also offers an AI center management guidelines evaluation program.