Piedmontese Cattle Association

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NAPA SERVICES

All Naturalean™ animals must be test verified to carry at least 1 copy of the Myostatin gene; and all Fullbloods must carry 2-copies of the gene. That is, they must be homozygous.

ALL Fullbloods tested to date have been homozygous or 2-copy for the Myostatin allele.

 

The North American Piedmontese Association (NAPA) is a Washington, USA registered non-profit Livestock Registry Association.

NAPA offers Registry Services to Piedmontese breeders across the USA and Canada. Registration of cattle is a very important part of Breed Improvement, as it allows breeders to keep accurate records of pedigree so that they may make informed selection in their breeding programs. By registering the pedigree, birth date and permanent tattoo - breeders have a formal record of "which animal is which" in a herd. Breeders have a reliable database to refer to, in case their own records become confused or lost.

NAPA registry also confirms the presence of the Piedmontese-specific Myostatin gene in the registered stock, through requirements of DNA testing for the gene. NAPA is the first Cattle Breed Registry to base registration on a specific gene. This is possible because the Piedmontese-specific myostatin gene is present only in Piedmontese cattle. A simple DNA test will confirm it.

NAPA is committed to the preservation of the Fullblood Piedmontese - by definition, a 100% pure animal tracing through registered pedigree to original Italian stock and carrying 2 alleles (homozygous) for Piedmontese-specific Myostatin. The Piedmontese evolved in only one small part of the world (northwest Italy) and the world population of 100% Fullblood Piedmontese is very low. The Fullblood Piedmontese animal is the unique genetic package capable of revolutionizing beef production. As we are all in the early stages of understanding the connections and effects of the various genes (including myostatin) that are involved in this breed, NAPA believes it is critical to preserve the Fullblood gene-pool. In NAPA, therefore, Fullblood Registrations are maintained in a seperate category from any and all 'crossbred' Piedmontese cattle. NAPA does not utilize an "up-graded purebred" registration format. Cattle are either registered as "Fullblood" (if they meet that criteria) or as "Naturalean™ Piedmontese".

The Naturalean™ category of registry is for Piedmontese cattle that carry some other breed influence (cross bred) and/or cattle that could have qualified for Fullblood registry, but which cannot meet the requirements for registered pedigree. (That is, a sire or dam was not registered, or parentage cannot be verified) In all cases, the cattle must be DNA test confirmed to carry at least 1 copy of the Piedmontese-specific myostatin gene. Naturalean™ Registration papers are printed on grey paper - and carry the registration number prefix of "N" or "NU". The "NU" prefix indicates that the registered pedigree information is in-complete. Fullblood registrations are printed on white paper and registry numbers do not have a prefix (except those indicating ET, for Embryo Transplant, etc)

Naturalean 1-copy animals are deemed "RECORDED" and their reg. number prefix states "RECORDED". Naturalean 2-copy animals are deemed "Registered".

NAPA is also very supportive of breeder's desire to introduce genetic influences into the Piedmontese from other breeds. The Naturalean category of registry allows breeders great flexability in their programs, while ensuring that the primary genetic influence from the Myostatin gene is not lost. Piedmontese breeders may crossbreed to introduce polled or color genetic features...with the Naturalean registration papers also indicating the level of known Piedmontese blood (as a percentage, for example 50%, 75%, 99% etc) and clearly stating if the animal carries 1 or 2 alleles for Myostatin. No animal will be registered that does not carry at least one Piedmontese-specific myostatin gene.

So, registering your stock is the first step to long term breed improvement. Tattooing your animals is essential to this process. A permanent identification mark in the animal's ear allows for tracing and verifying that animal. The tattoo mark gives us 3 vital pieces of information: 1) the owner at birth, 2) the number designation given by the owner at birth, and 3) the year letter to tell us how old the animal is. For full Instructions On How and Why to Tattoo, click HERE.

NAPA membership is available on an Annual basis, with members receiving full services through the calendar year, for the low fee of $70.(effective Jan. 1, 2006) Members are eligible to vote on any and all NAPA Bylaw changes, and to elect officials to the 5 member Board of Directors. All voting is done by mail-in ballot, so that everyone may have their opinions counted, without the need to personally attend meetings. For this reason, no "proxy voting" is allowed. Each member receives one vote - and additional votes based on the number of NAPA registered animals that they own at the time of the vote. For every 5 NAPA registered Fullblood animals, and for every 10 Naturalean™ registered animals, the member receives 1 additional vote; capped to 20 additional votes. This means that the maximum number of votes a member may have is 21. (Visit this LINK to view the NAPA By-Laws, in PDF file.) The philosophy behind this "weighed vote" is to correct the imbalance that exists between breeders with lower numbers of cattle and those with larger herds. In most breeds, there are significantly more breeders who have less than 100 animals than breeders with more than 100 head. The cattle industry norm is to see the smaller breeders come and go - while the larger breeders tend to remain in the business. (The average "life span" of a registered cattle breeder is some 7 years.) Therefore, an association voting policy of "one membership - one vote" will always favor the many smaller breeders over the few larger breeders. NAPA has endevoured to correct this by using the weighted vote policy. However, note that the NAPA membership is still comprised of a majority of 'smaller' breeders (less than 50 Fullblood or Naturalean™ cattle), as are most breed associations.

All new NAPA members receive a complimentary Breed Video (also available on DVD)- to use in their promotional efforts. NAPA provides excellent support to breeders to promote the breed and their individual programs through the regular magazine (subscription comes with membership) and reasonably priced advertising rates.

Check out the Pedigree & Members Search Engines pages ! To find NAPA members by name or by State, and to search for registered cattle by name or tattoo or registry number...this Search Engine is a valuable service offered by NAPA's Registry Office, the CLRC.

Fee Schedule Click this Link to go to the NAPA Fee Schedule for all services from membership to registry and animal transfers.

Printable Forms Click this Link to go to the page where you may access PDF file printable forms, for Membership, animal registration or DNA testing.

Questions or comments should be directed to the NAPA Executive Director - Vicki Johnson - at 306-329-8600 or by email to NAPA@yourlink.ca

 

 

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