This TAEP Bull Purchase Reimbursement Tool is provided as a public service by the Department of Animal Science and the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program (TAEP). The TAEP Bull Purchase Reimbursement Tool is an online aid to help in determining a bull’s qualification and potential reimbursement amount in the Tennessee Ag Enhancement Program. The online tool is intended to be used as a guide to provide information based solely on accurate data entered by the user. The TAEP Bull Purchase Reimbursement Tool is provided without any guarantees of acceptance.
Refer to FY2024-2025 TAEP – Genomic Enhanced EPD (GE-EPD) & Index – breed minimum requirements.
Important! New for 2024-2025
Update – Due to current economic conditions and the increase in TAEP funding provided by Governor Bill Lee and the Tennessee General Assembly, the Genetics program maximum is increased to $2,000.
Please refer to the Links section, including FY2024-2025 TAEP – Genomic Enhanced EPD (GE-EPD) & Index – breed minimum requirements for a complete explanation of TAEP Genetics Bull reimbursement requirements.
Buyers must communicate with the seller prior to purchasing to ensure the bull meets all TAEP eligibility requirements.
In addition to meeting EPD, Genomic, Index, Accuracy and Pedigree Print Date qualifications, the bull must also have an eligible receipt, BSE, 840 EID tag, and negative test results for BVD-PI.
Bulls must have eligible Genomic Enhanced EPDs (GE-EPD) and Indexes or have a minimum accuracy value of .25 for the Calving Ease Direct (CED) EPD on breed association pedigree between October 1, 2024 & date of purchase and meet TAEP GE-EPD/Index requirements for one of the two (1 of 2) eligible bull types to be eligible for cost share reimbursement. Contact the breed association if you are unsure of the bull’s status.
- Breeds
- Angus
- Beefmaster
- Black Hereford
- Brangus/Ultrablack
- Braunvieh
- Chianina/Chiangus
- Charolais
- Gelbvieh/Balancer
- Hereford
- Limousin/Lim-Flex
- Maine-Anjou/MaineTainer
- Red Angus
- Saler/Optimizer
- Santa Gertrudis
- Senepol
- Shorthorn
- Simmental/Hybrid
- Wagyu
Breed association pedigree must be submitted with reimbursement request and include eligible GE-EPDs, Indexes, accuracies, genomic status, and have a printed date between October 1, 2024 and date of purchase.
Reimbursement will be calculated based on purchase price at 50% (Master Certification required for all TAEP producers) up to $2,000 maximum.
Payment for these breeds will be denied if individual bulls do not have eligible Genomic Enhanced EPDs (GE-EPD) & Indexes or .25 accuracy
TAEP Bull Type Options
Bulls and AI semen must meet or exceed GE-EPD and Index requirements in each of the two (2) GE-EPD/Index groups (Calving Ease + Index or Growth) for one of the following two bull types:
- Balanced Trait/Maternal — must meet CED + (Maternal Index or WW or YW)
- Carcass Merit/Terminal — must meet CED + (Terminal Index or WW or YW)
QUESTIONS
Genetics Coordinator: Ryan Betzelberger
Phone: 615-837-5382
Email: livestock.genetics@tn.gov
Disclaimer of Liability
In preparation of the TAEP Bull Purchase Reimbursement Tool, every effort has been made to offer the most current, correct, and clearly expressed information possible. Nevertheless, inadvertent errors in information may occur. The information included in this TAEP Bull Purchase Reimbursement Tool was compiled by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.
Bull Information
*** Pedigree printed from breed association website must be submitted with reimbursement request and include EPDs, accuracies, genomic verification (if applicable), indexes, and have a printed date between October 1, 2024 and the date of purchase. ***
Calving Ease Group
CED acceptable?
Index/Growth Group
Maternal Index acceptable?
OR
Terminal Index acceptable?
OR
WW acceptable?
OR
YW acceptable?
Suggested Group
Suggested Milk EPD Range
Suggested Minimum Docility
Suggested CED for Breeding to Heifers
Suggested Max Mature Cow Weight EPD
Cost-share up to maximum of $0.00
** Reimbursements will be based on maximum allowed by TDA depending on genomic testing, sale price, and current Master Producer Certificate. Please see “Examples of the TAEP Beef Genetics Program Cost Share” link below for more details. **
What Am I Looking For?
Print a current copy of the bull’s pedigree showing EPD, Genomic, Index, Accuracy, and Pedigree Print Date information. Pedigree must be dated between October 1, 2024 and Date of Purchase.
To use the calculator, first enter the pedigree print date and then select the EPD group for the breed of bull for which you are checking eligibility. GE-EPDs are required for most breeds. Breeder and breed association websites will have documentation if the bull has Genomic Enhanced EPDs. Next select the bull’s breed.
Next enter the EPD, Index and accuracy numbers of your bull. By using the example below, the first line is the EPD number and the second line is the accuracy number you use to enter in the calculator boxes. Index, milk, and docility do not require an accuracy input.
| CED Acc | $M | $B | WW Acc | YW Acc | Milk Acc | Doc | MW |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| +5 .35 65% | +75 20% | +151 30% | +68 .46 30% | +115 .39 35% | +26 .34 50% | +25 20% | +73 .33 40% |
EPDs
CED = Calving Ease Direct
WW = Weaning Weight
YW = Yearling Weight
$M = $Maternal (Maternal Index) (Angus)
$B = $Beef (Terminal Index) (Angus)
MW = Mature Cow Weight (Angus)
After you have completed entering your information, click the “Check Eligibility” box. You are required to acknowledge that you have read the liability statement before your results are displayed.
Helpful Links
TDA Links
- Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program
- FY2024-2025 TAEP – Genomic Enhanced EPD (GE-EPD) & Index – breed minimum requirements
- TDA Beef Livestock Resources
- Trichomoniasis (Trich) in Cattle
- Import Requirements
Extension Links
- Master Beef Producer Program
- Beef and Forage Center
- Beef Quality Assurance Program (BQA)
- Bull Testing Program
- Heifer Development Program
- Beef Cattle Economic Selection Indices
Publications
- Crossbreeding in Beef Cattle
- Guidelines for Selecting Good Feet and Structure
- The difference in Accuracy (ACC), Percentile Ranking (%) and Genomic Scores of EPD’s
Questions?
TAEP Hotline: 800-342-8206
Genetics Coordinator: Ryan Betzelberger
Phone: 615-837-5382
Email: livestock.genetics@tn.gov