Science, technology and the willingness of Angus producers to test their animals, along with efficient communication via the Internet, have aided the American Angus Association® (AAA) in its efforts to keep the membership informed and abreast of the issues of arthrogryposis multiplex (AM), AAA says. Also known as "curly calf,” AM is a genetic defect discovered within the breed late last year.

Five labs are now conducting tests and electronically submitting those results to AAA daily; the results are posted on American Angus Association and added to the database. As of March 31, AAA reports more than 50,000 animals had been tested and reported.

AAA Login users (registered and commercial) can log in and use the Potential Carrier Report on their account to see exactly which animals they should test first. Animals on the report are labeled several ways:

• No carrier ancestor – the animal has no AM carrier in its pedigree or an ancestor that’s been tested free and therefore does not require testing.
  
• Undetermined – the animal is commercial and doesn’t have enough info in its pedigree to determine parentage.
  
• Potential carrier – has one or more ancestors in its pedigree that are carriers and should be tested to find out definite status.