# American Shorthorn Association

> The American Shorthorn Association is a member-funded breed organization that maintains the U.S. Shorthorn herdbook, registers and transfers cattle, coordinates DNA testing and performance records, runs national shows and youth programs, and promotes Shorthorn genetics to commercial and seedstock producers. Founded in 1872, it has turned a nineteenth-century record-keeping problem into a modern trust system spanning pedigrees, genomic data, education, media, and community.

- **Founded:** 1872
- **Headquarters:** Kansas City, United States
- **Founders:** Breeders from nine U.S. states (Founding members)
- **Products:** Registration and herdbook, Appendix Registry, Performance evaluation and EPDs, DNA testing coordination, Shows and events
- **Notable:** Formed in 1872 by breeders from nine states and remains one of the oldest U.S. breed organizations., Brought the American, Kentucky and Ohio Shorthorn herd-book records under one management after purchases totaling $36,000 in 1883., Maintains the only ongoing British-breed appendix registry that documents influence from related and non-related breeds, according to ASA.

## Products & services

- **Registration and herdbook** — DigitalBeef-based registration, pedigree records, animal transfers, herd prefixes, and whole-herd reporting for Shorthorn, ShorthornPlus and Durham Red cattle.
- **Appendix Registry** — An ongoing program documenting Shorthorn influence alongside related and non-related breeds, including ShorthornPlus and Durham Red.
- **Performance evaluation and EPDs** — Genetic evaluation, Expected Progeny Differences, selection indexes, performance resources and genomically enhanced EPDs.
- **DNA testing coordination** — Neogen testing for genomic profiles, parentage and genetic conditions, with accepted results loaded into the DigitalBeef registry.
- **Shows and events** — National, super-national and regional show systems, results, annual meetings and educational gatherings.
- **American Junior Shorthorn Association** — Youth membership, leadership, contests, scholarships and the National Junior Shorthorn Show & Youth Conference.
- **Shorthorn media** — Shorthorn Country magazine, the Shorthorn Bull Pen podcast, news, educational videos and American Rancher television features.
- **Locally raised beef connection** — A program connecting Shorthorn cattle producers with consumers seeking locally raised beef.

## Achievements

- Formed in 1872 by breeders from nine states and remains one of the oldest U.S. breed organizations.
- Brought the American, Kentucky and Ohio Shorthorn herd-book records under one management after purchases totaling $36,000 in 1883.
- Maintains the only ongoing British-breed appendix registry that documents influence from related and non-related breeds, according to ASA.
- Established its first Shorthorn Genetic Evaluation in 1982 and Whole Herd Reporting in 1998.
- Reports approximately 15,000 animals recorded each year and more than 20,000 head in whole-herd reporting.
- Built an American Junior Shorthorn Association with more than 4,000 junior members nationwide.
- Made 100K DNA testing mandatory for natural-service sires born on or after January 1, 2022.
- The Shorthorn Foundation reports nearly $100,000 donated to breed projects over its history.

## Latest updates

- **2026-06** — ASA said the National Junior Shorthorn Show in Abilene, Texas would proceed while addressing New World screwworm protocols for exhibitors.
- **2026-05** — ASA published 2025-2026 regional show award results and said overall regional champions would be recognized at the October 2026 annual meeting.
- **2026-01** — A new American Rancher feature highlighted Shorthorn breeders and their spring sales.
- **2025-05** — ASA announced the 2024-2025 National Show Animals of the Year for recognition at its annual meeting and awards banquet.
- **2024-09** — The association published a further evaluation of its Cow Productivity Index after changing the selection-index offering in DigitalBeef.
- **2024-08** — ASA updated its selection indexes used in DigitalBeef.

## Links

- Website: https://shorthorn.org
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/american-shorthorn-association/
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/shorthornassn
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ShorthornASA
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ShorthornAssn
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/americanshorthornassociation

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Last updated: 2026-09-20