What American Simmental Association does

The American Simmental Association (ASA) is a nonprofit breed association founded in 1968 and headquartered in Bozeman, Montana. It maintains the official U.S. herdbook for Simmental cattle and serves seedstock breeders, commercial cow-calf producers, and junior members through registration, pedigree certification, DNA testing, and genetic evaluation services. ASA operates the International Genetic Solutions (IGS) Multi-breed Genetic Evaluation, a collaborative analytical platform powered by its proprietary BOLT software, which produces weekly genomically enhanced Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs) across multiple cattle breeds using single-step genomic BLUP methodology and ~100K SNP DNA panels.

ASA's product surface spans official animal registration, genomic testing services, sire selection tools, breed shows, and an expanding portfolio of EPD traits. Recent additions include Mature Weight (MW) and Cow Energy Requirement (CER) EPDs launched in February 2026, the Heifer Pregnancy (HP) EPD launched in May 2026, and evaluation updates for Docility (April 2026) and Calving Ease (2025). The organization has pursued an aggressive in-house geneticist hiring program to support ongoing EPD development and multi-breed analytical work.

ASA is a membership-based nonprofit. Revenue is generated through adult and junior membership dues (new adult memberships priced at $105-$160, with ~$110 annual renewals and ~$40 junior memberships), per-calf registration fees ($42 for members, $126 for non-members), DNA testing fees, and ancillary services such as the Phenotype and Genotype Show. ASA employs 11-50 staff and partners with state-level Simmental associations and SimSpecialist representatives to maintain regional reach across the U.S. cattle industry.

Name

American Simmental Association

Legal name

American Simmental Association

Website

https://simmental.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The American Simmental Association is a nonprofit breed registry and genetic evaluation organization founded in 1968 in Bozeman, Montana, serving U.S. seedstock breeders, commercial cattle producers, and junior members through pedigree registration, DNA testing, and the BOLT-powered IGS Multi-breed Genetic Evaluation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Livestock Breed Registry and Genetic Evaluation

NAICS

Other Animal Production (1129)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro primary industry

Breed Registry, Pedigree & Performance Recording Services (AFAEAJAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Genomic Testing & Genetic Evaluation Services (AFAEAJAC), Genetic Testing & Genomic Profiling Services (Parentage, Trait Testing) (AFACAEAE)

Keywords

• Cattle breed registry
• Genetic evaluation services
• Livestock DNA testing
• Expected progeny differences
• Beef cattle genetics

Headquarters

HQ city

Bozeman

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues and Annual Service Fees: ASA generates revenue from adult and junior membership fees. New adult memberships cost $105-$160 depending on enrollment period, with annual service fees of $110. Junior memberships are $40 annually. Membership provides access to reduced registration fees, Herdbook Services, publications (the Register, SimTalk), and other member benefits.
2. Animal Registration Fees: Per-calf animal registration fees of $42 for members and $126 for non-members. Additional fees apply for foundation sire registration ($25), foundation dam registration ($5), DNA testing, and transfer services. Revenue is volume-based on calf crops registered.
3. DNA Testing Services: ASA offers DNA testing including the 100K panel for genomic evaluation, parentage verification, genetic defect testing, coat color testing, horned/polled testing, and the Red Charlie variant test. All donor dams and AI sires must complete 100K DNA testing before approval.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels13 records

Core offering

American Simmental Association is a nonprofit breed registry and genetic evaluation organization that provides Simmental and Simbrah cattle registration, parentage and genomic DNA testing (GGP100K, GGPuLD), and multi-breed Expected Progeny Difference (EPD) genetic predictions through the International Genetic Solutions (IGS) evaluation powered by BOLT. Members access these services via the Herdbook online portal and SimmAPP mobile app, along with breed improvement programs (Total Herd Enrollment, Cow Herd Roundup, Carcass Merit Program, Calf Crop Genomics, Carcass Expansion Program), economic selection indexes ($API, $TI, $Gain), and promotional publications (SimTalk and the Register).

Product overview

The American Simmental Association offers a unified breed registry and genetic evaluation platform comprising the Herdbook database for animal registration and management, DNA testing services with GGP100K and GGPuLD genomic panels, and a suite of Expected Progeny Difference (EPD) tools powered by the International Genetic Solutions (IGS) multi-breed evaluation system. The product ecosystem includes member-facing web and mobile applications (Herdbook Services, SimmAPP), multiple data collection programs (Total Herd Enrollment, Cow Herd Roundup, Carcass Merit Program, Calf Crop Genomics), economic selection indexes ($API, $TI, $Gain), and industry publications (SimTalk Magazine, the Register Magazine). These components work together to provide cattle breeders with genomic predictions, phenotypic data collection tools, and marketing resources across the Simmental, Simbrah, Hybrid, and Fullblood breed populations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SimSpecialists: Advertising and marketing promotion specialists program for ASA members
• SimTalk Magazine
• The Register
• Sire Source
• Total Herd Enrollment (THE)
• SimmAPP

Products and services

• Herdbook Services Online database and member portal at herdbook.org enabling ASA members to perform animal searches, EPD lookups, online data processing, report generation, bulk and single planned matings, online registrations, data reporting and transfers. Available globally to members.
• SimmAPP Mobile Application Mobile application on Google Play and Apple App Store providing ASA members access to animal search, EPD lookup, herdbook services and association news on the go.
• DNA Testing Services Beef cattle DNA testing including the GGP100K genomic panel (~100,000 SNPs), GGPuLD lower-density panel, parentage verification, genetic condition testing (AM, CA, DD, NH, OS, PHA, TH), coat color testing, horned/polled testing and Red Charlie variant test. Required for AI sire and donor dam approval.
• Genomically Enhanced EPD (GE-EPD) Genetic evaluation predictions enhanced with genomic data from DNA testing panels (GGP100K or GGPuLD), providing more accurate EPD for young animals. Achieves accuracy improvements equivalent to 4–25+ progeny records depending on trait.
• Total Herd Enrollment (THE) Comprehensive dam inventory program facilitating complete data reporting across contemporary groups; enables collection of calving and productivity information for genetic evaluations.
• Cow Herd Roundup (CHR) Program for recording cow herd productivity data to generate phenotypic records used in genetic evaluation.
• Carcass Merit Program (CMP) Program for collecting carcass data on slaughter cattle to generate carcass EPD and genomic predictions.
• Calf Crop Genomics (CCG) Program for genomic testing of calf crops to generate genomically enhanced EPD on commercial and seedstock animals.
• Feeder Profit Calculator (FPC) Economic tool for calculating expected profit differences in feeder cattle based on genetic potential and market conditions.
• Carcass Expansion Program (CXP) Program designed to expand carcass data collection and improve carcass EPD accuracy across the Simmental population.
• Performance Advocate Program Program supporting data collection and phenotypic recording by trained advocates to improve genetic evaluation accuracy.
• All-Purpose Index ($API) Economic selection index evaluating sires for use on entire cow herds with retention of replacement females, combining all economically relevant traits into a weighted index.
• Terminal Index ($TI) Economic selection index for terminal breeding programs where all offspring go to slaughter, assuming mating to mature Angus cows.
• $Gain Economic Subindex Economic subindex predicting dollar difference per head per day during the post-weaning period based on DMI and ADG EPD combination, factored into $API and $TI.
• SimTalk Magazine Quarterly cattlemen's magazine focusing on SimGenetic commercial programs, research and industry topics, distributed with ASA membership and available to non-members.
• the Register Magazine Monthly publication highlighting ASA breeders and association activities, distributed with ASA membership.
• Sire Source Annual sire listing resource facilitating genetic decisions, providing a catalog of available sires with EPD and genetic information.
• SimSpecialists Marketing, advertising and sale support service provided at cattle sales and events to promote Simmental genetics and assist ASA members with promotional campaigns.
• International Genetic Solutions (IGS) Multi-breed Evaluation Multi-breed genetic evaluation consortium and platform powered by BOLT software, providing weekly genomically enhanced EPD updates across multiple breed associations including Simmental, drawing from phenotypic, genomic and pedigree data.
• Heifer Pregnancy (HP) EPD New EPD predicting the percentage of a sire's daughters that will conceive and calve at two years of age; released as a production tool on Herdbook.org.
• Mature Weight (MW) and Cow Energy Requirement (CER) EPD Pair of EPDs released February 2026: Mature Weight predicts pounds of cow body weight at six years; Cow Energy Requirement predicts annual TDN required, combining MW, BW and Milk EPD in NRC-based prediction equations.

Quantifiable outcome

• GE-EPD provides accuracy improvement equivalent to 4-25+ progeny records on young animals
• +7 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• International Genetic Solutions (IGS)coreTechnology or IntegrationIGS is a multi-breed genetic evaluation consortium that powers ASA's weekly genetic evaluations using the BOLT computational platform. IGS combines phenotypic data, genomic data, and pedigree information from multiple breed associations to deliver genomically enhanced EPD for Simmental, Simbrah, Fullblood, and Hybrid populations on a weekly basis. ASA participates in IGS alongside other breed organizations, contributing data and sharing the resulting genetic evaluation tools.
• American Junior Simmental Association (AJSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAJSA is the youth division of ASA focused on developing the next generation of Simmental breeders through regional and national show programs, leadership initiatives, and educational activities. AJSA Regional Classics (Eastern and Western) and the National Classic XLVI provide competition venues. The new Phenotype and Genotype (P&G) Show was introduced in 2026, evaluating cattle on both genetic merit and visual phenotype.
• American Simmental-Simbrah Foundation (ASF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe American Simmental-Simbrah Foundation supports the preservation and promotion of the Simbrah breed (Simmental x Brahman composite). ASA collaborates with ASF on breed development, genetic evaluation, and promotional activities for the Simbrah population.
• State Simmental AssociationscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorASA is affiliated with state-level Simmental associations across the United States. These state associations serve as local points of contact, organize regional events, and promote the Simmental breed within their respective states.
• SimSpecialistsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSimSpecialists are promotional representatives who assist ASA members at cattle sales and events, providing advertising, marketing, and promotional services. They help breeders create effective sales campaigns and promotional materials.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• American Angus Association: Largest U.S. beef breed association operating a comparable registry, genomic evaluation (Angus GS), and member-services platform. Directly competes with ASA for seedstock registrations, DNA testing volume, and commercial-producer mindshare in crossbreeding programs.
• North American Limousin Foundation: Mid-sized beef breed association operating a registry and genetic evaluation for Limousin cattle. Closely analogous operating model and competes directly with ASA for seedstock registrations and commercial crossbreeding programs.
• American Hereford Association: Major U.S. beef breed association running its own genetic evaluation and member services. Competes with ASA for seedstock registrations and commercial crossbreeding share, and is a fellow member of multi-breed evaluation initiatives.
• Red Angus Association of America: Direct competitor breed association for Simmental with overlapping genomic evaluation services, EPD suite, and commercial cowherd programs. Closely comparable membership and registration model, and has honored ASA staff with industry awards.
• American International Charolais Association: Direct peer breed association for Charolais cattle with analogous breed registry, EPD programs, and DNA testing services. Competes in the same terminal-cross and crossbreeding segment that ASA targets with Simmental genetics.
• American Brahman Breeders Association: National breed association for American Brahman cattle, which is highly relevant given ASA's Simbrah (Simmental x Brahman) composite program. Competes in the heat-tolerance and tropical crossbreeding segments.

Others

• American Quarter Horse Association: Large U.S. breed registry with a similar membership-based operating model, publications, and youth programs. Thematically comparable as a nonprofit breed association but in the equine segment rather than beef cattle.
• Beef Improvement Federation (BIF): Industry body that sets guidelines for beef cattle genetic evaluation and has awarded multiple ASA staff members. Not a competitor, but a relevant industry ecosystem participant whose standards influence ASA's evaluation methodology.

Regional players

• Holstein USA: U.S. dairy breed registry that ASA partners with via the HolSim Bull List cross-reference. Operates a comparable registry, classification, and genomic evaluation model in the dairy segment, illustrating an adjacent breed-association operating model.

Emerging players

• International Genetic Solutions (IGS): Multi-breed genetic evaluation consortium in which ASA is a participant and joint-venture partner. Directly comparable technology platform powering BOLT evaluations, and a shared infrastructure relationship rather than a pure competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@AmericanSimmentalAssociation
• Xx.com/asasimmental

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about American Simmental Association