Seedstock Plus is a cooperative of 65 independent breeders from 16 states that sells about 1,200 Angus, Red Angus, Gelbvieh and Balancer bulls each year. John Burbank, CEO, says by using the IGENITY profile, Seedstock Plus is able to provide its customers with valuable information needed to make important purchasing decisions.

The group is profiling all bulls in the Seedstock Plus system and will publish the scores from IGENITY this year as part of their marketing program.

We have a large number of producers who purchase bulls sight unseen. IGENITY allows us to provide more information to all our customers, but it is especially important for those who never actually see the bulls," Burbank explains. "DNA technology helps us represent those bulls' genetics accurately, helping the buyer to make the best decision."

He says the IGENITY profile also is helping cooperative members make improvements in their own herds, allowing them to select for certain traits and raise better seedstock in fewer generations.

Burbank adds that the IGENITY tagging device provides additional benefits. It easily collects a tissue sample that allows Seedstock Plus breeders to learn BVD-PI status on their bulls along with DNA profile results.

"Our breeders like the ease of the tagging system and it is a bonus to be able to get BVD-PI status," Burbank says. "We appreciate that IGENITY provides all of the genetic information we want in a single profile, instead of having to get DNA tests for each individual trait or take separate samples for BVD-PI testing."