SmartCross^™ also shows producers that already have a blend of Continental x British in the cowherd how to stay in the center using Balancer bulls.  Balancers^™ are registered seedstock that have registered parents on both sides. (click here to learn more)

 "SmartCross^™ resulted from a need that the American Gelbvieh Association  saw for an easy-to-understand crossbreeding program," says AGA Executive Director Don Schiefelbein. "The beef industry demands a blend of Continental x British, but no one had an easy plan for the commercial producer to get there. SmartCross^™ is that plan and shows how Gelbvieh can be used to find that profit center in the business."

SmartBuy™ Program Identifies SmartCross Calves

SmartCross^™ calves are well established as excellent feeding cattle that perform extremely well when sold on value-based grids. Identifying these high quality calves is now easier through the AGA's new SmartBuy^™ program.

The SmartBuy^™ program provides for a distinctive orange tag displaying the SmartCross^™ logo.

The American Gelbvieh Association recently completed its first full year with is SmartCross ear tag program that identifies source, process and genetically identified feeder calves.  No other tag program in the industry gives buyers as much confidence in buying quality feeder calves.  SmartCross tagged calves must be:

1)    Sired by registered Gelbvieh, Balancer or registered Gelbvieh x Angus (red or black) hybrid bulls and out of Angus-based cows,

2)   Precondition with the VAC 34 or VAC 45 program, and

3)   Raise the calves under Beef Quality Assurance guidelines

            In response to commercial producer requests, the American Gelbvieh Association has redesigned the SmartCross tag to give commercial producers an option.  Now producers can choose to buy the Marketing tag with the SmartCross logo, ranch name and unique 9-digit number or you can buy one of two Management tags with the word SmartCross.

            Tags can be purchased at any time as long as the calves have or will meet the above conditions. This allows producers to tag calves at birth with the Management tag.  Producers can order blank tags and add their own numbers or order tags with a specific range of numbers with a limit five letters or numbers per tag. These tags will be orange with black numbers and letters.

            If producers would prefer, they can buy the Marketing tags at preconditioning time. This gives producers the option to include their ranch name (limit of 12 letters and spaces) and build a reputation for their high quality calves.

            The first step to order Gelbvieh SmartCross tags is to complete the SmartCross Tag Certification Form and send it to the AGA office.  Click here to download certification form or call the AGA office.

             If you have any questions, please call the AGA at 303-465-2333 or email info@gelbvieh.org

These tags also include a unique national ID number (distributed by USDA) and have enough space on the front to be used as the primary identification for the calf or can be used to identify the seedstock producer. SmartCross^™ tagged calves must meet specific SmartCross^™ qualifications including:

• 75% or more of the calves are the result of using registered Gelbvieh, Balancers or Gv x An Hybrids on Angus-based cows (red or black).
• Calves must receive minimum precondition shots for IBR, BVD and BRSV, and PI3 (Vac 34 or Vac 45).
• Calves must be vaccinated following Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) guidelines (shots in the neck).

SmartCross^™ and Balancer^™ are registered trademarks of the American Gelbvieh Association.  SmartBuy^™ is a  trademark of the American Gelbvieh Association. SmartCross^™, Balancer^™ and SmartBuy^™ can not be used without the written consent of the American Gelbvieh Association.

To request free SmartCross^™ Handbook, Gelbvieh, Balancer^™ Brochures, please contact us at info@gelbvieh.org

To view the SmartCross Handbook online, click HERE.