Why the Change?

These updates are designed to keep our organizations financially healthy while continuing to deliver the services our members rely on — from registrations and genomic testing to advertising in our publications and junior program support.

What’s New for AICA Members

• 90-day suspension rule: Accounts that go 90 days past due will be suspended until the balance is brought current.
• Interest on late balances: Starting at 60 days past due, accounts with balances over $1,000 will begin accruing interest — the lesser of 10% annually or the legal maximum.
• Genomic testing is now prepay-only. Be sure payment is submitted before samples are processed.
• Junior memberships must be prepaid at enrollment or renewal.
• Credit card payments will carry a 4% convenience fee once EFT/ACH options are in place — so if you’d like to avoid it, consider switching to bank transfer when available.
• Payment plans remain available case-by-case for members who need flexibility, provided installments are paid on schedule.

What’s New for CPI Advertisers

• Interest of 10% kicks in at 30 days past due, compounding every 30 days on the outstanding balance.
• Accounts 90 days past due will have advertising placement paused until current.
• Payment plans can be arranged to keep your ads running while you catch up.

What’s New for AIJCA Sponsors

• Sponsorship invoices are due within 30 days unless otherwise noted — a good reminder to calendar those due dates early.

Staying Informed

You’ll continue to receive monthly statements electronically, with printed statements mailed four times a year. You can also check your balance anytime through the member login portal.

Our Advice

The easiest way to avoid interest charges and service interruptions is simple: pay early, pay on time, and reach out proactively if you’re facing a hardship. AICA staff can reduce or waive fees at their discretion in special circumstances — but that starts with a conversation, so don’t hesitate to contact the office if you need help setting up a payment plan.

Questions about your account? Log in to the member portal or contact AICA staff directly — we’re here to help keep your herd’s business running smoothly.

Discover CharAdvantage Feeder Calf Premiums

Market Your Calves with the Nation’s Largest Buyer Base

The American-International Charolais Association (AICA) is teaming up with Superior Livestock Auction to give CharAdvantage feeder calf consignors a dedicated marketing advantage during the Big Horn Classic Video Auction.

By grouping quality Charolais-influenced cattle into a special section, consignors gain more than just exposure — they gain leverage.

Our Objective

We’re working with the AICA and Superior Livestock Auction to market your CharAdvantage feeder calves together in a dedicated special section during the Big Horn Classic Video Auction.

When quality Charolais-influenced cattle are marketed as a group, consignors benefit from:

• Stronger buyer attention on high-quality, Charolais-influenced genetics
• Increased competition among buyers within the special section
• Seedstock supplier participation, adding credibility and interest
• Maximized CharAdvantage premiums, put in front of the nation’s largest buyer base

More competition, more visibility, more dollars in your pocket.

The Long-Term Win

When commercial cattlemen, Charolais seedstock producers, and Superior Livestock Auction come together around CharAdvantage feeder cattle, the market takes notice.

Strong Charolais genetics continue to earn recognition, drive buyer demand, and create added value throughout the entire production chain — from the ranch to the rail.

Ready to Get Started?

Connect with your AICA Field Representative today to learn how to enroll your feeder calves in the CharAdvantage program and take advantage of this dedicated marketing opportunity at the Big Horn Classic.

Understanding these percentiles can help you make more informed breeding and marketing decisions while adding value to your program. Learn more about Charolais Genetic Evaluations here: https://charolaisusa.com/genetics/genetic-evaluation/

March 1 – September 1

$40 for the complete bundle

This bundle includes:

100K Genomic Test

Progressive Ataxia Testing

Horn/Polled Testing

This is a great opportunity to access comprehensive genetic testing at the lowest price. We’re proud to make these tools more affordable to help move your herd forward with confidence.

To participate or for more details, contact

Sarah Almond (ext. 402) salmond@charolaisusa.com

Take advantage of this limited-time opportunity to add value, improve accuracy, and strengthen your breeding program.

Animals that have had the 100K ran and are needing to have the Progressive Ataxia and/or Horn/Polled test added, will be charged the following fees:

Progressive Ataxia Testing- $5

Horn/Polled Testing- $20

ALL fees will double for non-member breeders.

March 2026 USDA data showed:
• 91.4% Choice & Prime (up 5.3%)
• 31.5% Yield Grade 4 & 5 carcasses (up 7.7%)

That means nearly 1 out of every 3 cattle harvested carried excess fat and reduced red meat yield.

As carcass weights climb and cattle stay on feed longer, the industry’s challenge is no longer just producing marbling. It’s producing more saleable red meat efficiently. We are at a tipping point where red meat yield once again becomes a primary driver of profitability-knowing that at today’s elevated finished weights Charolais-sired cattle consistently grade Choice and Prime.

The concern is not whether the industry can produce marbling — it clearly can. The concern is whether the current production model is maximizing profitability and pounds of saleable product. As carcass weights continue to rise and cattle remain on feed longer, excess external fat is increasing faster than true carcass value. That’s where Charolais genetics matter.

Charolais bulls are proven to increase:

• Red meat yield
• Muscle expression
• Feed efficiency
• Carcass weight
• Pounds of payweight through heterosis

All while maintaining the ability to achieve today’s quality grade targets.

With tighter or inverted Choice/Select spreads and softer branded program premiums, the economic importance of cutability and yield is becoming impossible to ignore. This is especially important in an era of historically low cow numbers and extremely tight beef supplies. The industry does not simply need more quality grade — it needs more efficiently produced pounds of high-value red meat. That is where genetics that combine acceptable quality grade with superior cutability, muscle expression, feed efficiency, and heavier yielding carcasses become increasingly relevant. The next phase of genetic progress in the beef industry may not be about chasing more marbling alone, but rather optimizing the balance between quality and yield in a way that maximizes total industry value.

That is why Charolais genetics are made for more.

Visit www.charolaisusa.com to find registered Charolais bulls, connect with AICA staff or to learn about data initiatives that are driving the industry forward.

Stay informed on the latest updates, committee highlights, and what’s ahead for the industry

Listen to the latest podcast: https://charolaisusa.com/news/podcasts/

By Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist

Research shows that gains from heterosis and performance by switching to Charolais bulls can help outweigh the deficit. In today’s modern cattle feeding of heavier finished weights, Charolais-sired cattle deliver Choice and Prime carcasses with added yield. In an era where every pound matters, calves by Charolais bulls simply produce more saleable product. That added performance helps offset the need to rely on imported beef by maximizing what we already produce domestically.

Imports may fill short-term gaps—but long-term success comes from more efficiency of production.

If we want to strengthen the U.S. beef supply chain, it starts with genetics that deliver:

– More carcass weight
– More feed conversion-at the bunk and in the pasture 
– More beef per acre grazed 

Rely on Charolais’s advantages in red meat yield and ability to deliver undiluted heterosis performance advantages in carcass weight and feed efficiency. 

Read more:  https://www.feedlotmagazine.com/news/industry_news/beef-imports-markets-versus-politics/article_f41cd401-52f9-4694-abe5-dae7d83b6f11.html

Applications are now officially open for the 2026 AIJCF Scholarships, offering valuable financial support to deserving American-International Junior Charolais Association (AIJCA) members pursuing higher education.

Designed to recognize excellence both in and out of the classroom, these scholarships reward students who demonstrate strong academic performance, leadership within AIJCA and affiliated organizations, and a genuine commitment to the cattle industry.

Whether your goals lie in animal science, agricultural business, veterinary medicine, or beyond, the AIJCF scholarship program is an opportunity to take the next step toward your future while staying rooted in the Charolais community.

The resulting calves will undergo genotyping and be measured for a comprehensive range of phenotypic traits throughout their lifecycle, including: 

• Birthweight 
• Weaning Weight 
• Yearling Weight 
• Carcass Ultrasound 
• Feed Intake 
• Foot Structure 
• Docility 
• Calf Vigor 
• Complete Harvest Records 

Increasing the accuracy of AICA EPDs holds many benefits for young sires, including more significant genetic improvement and faster progress in desirable traits within the Charolais breed. This clearer indication of the genetic potential benefits seedstock producers in allowing the matching of sires and dams more effectively, improving the consistency and performance of their herd across generations. Bull buyers benefit from increased accuracy by reducing the risk of using genetics that may not meet performance expectations, helping to avoid costly mistakes. 

By participating in this program, members can significantly increase the accuracy of their registered Charolais sires while gaining valuable insights into how their genetics perform throughout the beef production process. Data collection fees will apply, and the program will be limited to ten bulls in its inaugural year. For more information or to enroll a sire, contact:

Maggie Smithee msmithee@charolaisusa.com or call (816) 464-2474 ext. 401

Sarah Almond salmond@charolaisusa.com or call (816) 464-2474 ext. 402

Now accepting nominations for Outstanding Seedstock Producer and Commerical Producer Honor Roll Award. Applications can be found on the website. Deadline March 9, 2026.

Hotel Reservation Information:
Embassy Suites by Hilton KCI
7640 NW Tiffany Springs Pkwy, Kansas City, MO 64153 (816) 891-7788
Housing method as Individual Call-In.
AICA GROUP reservation link is:
https://www.hilton.com/en/attend-my-event/aica-2026-kc-embassy/
Room Rate: King – $132.00 Double – $137.00 (Plus Taxes)
CUTOFF DATE ROOM RESERVATIONS: March 31, 2026.

The American International Charolais Association is pleased to announce the availability of a new optional coat-color genetic test for Charolais cattle: the KIT-PINZ coat color test.

The KIT locus underlying color pattern in Charolais—sometimes referred to as the “skunk tail” pattern—appears to be a naturally occurring underlying coat color pattern in some Charolais genetics. This pattern is most commonly identified by a white tail and, in some cases, a white line extending over the tail head and down the tail. Due to the presence of the Charolais dilution gene, this color pattern is not often observed in purebred Charolais cattle and is more commonly expressed in crossbreeding situations.

Importantly, the KIT color pattern has no negative correlation with any other trait in the Charolais breed. It represents an underlying coat color pattern that appears to trace back to original Charolais origins and is not associated with performance, functionality, or production concerns.

Research indicates the KIT locus exhibits codominant inheritance, meaning the phenotype may be expressed in both heterozygous and homozygous animals. The KIT-PINZ mutation itself is incompletely dominant, resulting in varying degrees of white expression among affected progeny. Calves receiving one copy of the KIT-PINZ mutation and only one copy of the dilution gene will express the phenotype, which may include smokey or tan coloration along with some degree of white in the tailhead and tail.

To ensure scientific accuracy and validation, AICA engaged Dr. Jon Beever at the University of Tennessee to assist in identifying the mutation and developing a reliable test for commercial use. Dr. Beever has validated the KIT-PINZ test across multiple bloodlines and sires and has confirmed the ability to identify both heterozygous and homozygous animals.

At this time, samples are submitted directly to the Dr. Beever, and members are highly encouraged to track shipments. The preferred courier for sending samples is UPS, due to challenges with deliverability with the lab address and U.S. Postal Service. Turnaround time from sample receipt to results is comparable to other genotyping providers. Ear tissue samples (TSU) are preferred, while hair and blood cards may require additional processing time.

Until the KIT-PINZ test can be incorporated into AICA’s 100K genomic testing panels, members interested in testing should contact Dr. Beever directly at:

Jon Beever
Professor & Director
UTIA Genomics Center for the Advancement of Agriculture
Phone: 217-841-0813
Email: jbeever@tennessee.edu

The cost of the KIT-PINZ coat color test is $17 per animal.

As with all new technologies, AICA’s objective is to provide members with accurate, validated tools that support informed breeding and marketing decisions. Participation in this testing is entirely optional, and the availability of this test does not alter breed standards, registration requirements, or AICA policy.

If you have questions about the KIT-PINZ test or would like additional information, please contact the AICA staff. We appreciate your continued engagement as we work to responsibly introduce new genetic tools that are grounded in sound science and transparency.

Sincerely,

Brett Spader
Executive Vice President
American International Charolais Association

Every year, Junior Nationals brings together exhibitors, families, breeders, and supporters from across the country for an unforgettable week of competition, education, and memories. Whether this is your first Junior Nationals or your tenth, one thing is always true: hotel rooms go fast.

Holiday Inn Express Hutchinson

Group Name: Junior Charolais Assn National Show

Hotel Telephone: (620) 259-8656

Booking Link: Click Here

Cutoff Date: June 1, 2026

Hampton Inn

Find the Best Price – Hampton Inn Hutchinson

Comfort Inn:

https://www.choicehotels.com/reservations/groups/JM99J3

Hilton Garden Inn booking link

JR CHAROLAIS ASSOC

CLICK HERE TO READ UPDATES

Tune in to the latest Charolais USA Podcast for a full recap of the recent AICA Board Meeting — featuring insights from President Frank Ellis and Executive Vice President Brett Spader. Hear how your association is moving the breed forward and what’s next for Charolais genetics, marketing, and member programs.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN NOW

CLICK HERE TO READ THE SUMMARY

Why This Matters

Today’s industrial beef industry strips away the identity of the rancher and the integrity of the product. At Charolais Craft Beef Cooperative, we believe it’s time for something different — a model where the ranchers regain power, consumers know the story behind their beef, and the Charolais breed finally gets the national platform it deserves.

We’re not building a business for Wall Street. We’re building a resilient, transparent, producer-owned system that turns cattle into legacy and price-takers into profit-sharers.

What We’re Building

The cooperative starts small and smart:

– 5 founding investors, each committing $200K and ~100 cattle/year
– Cattle are toll processed, keeping value with the rancher
– Growth is steady: as each seat generates revenue, a new one is added
– 10-seat cap per co-op, then a new regional co-op is launched

This isn’t just a brand. It’s a system. Each cooperative is supported by professionals, governed by ranchers, and focused on building a premium, national craft beef identity.

How It Works

Supply Chain Integration 
From feedlot to foodservice, cattle stay within a trusted ecosystem

Guaranteed Volume & Quota 
Investors secure processing capacity and distribution access

Revenue Sharing 
Proceeds flow back to seat holders based on cattle supplied

Access to Lending 
Seats can be collateralized — real equity, not just a buy-in

This balance of ownership, cashflow, and equity makes every seat an appreciating asset.

Investor Returns: Built for Stability & Scale

Each $200K seat is projected to:

– Break even by Year 3
– Deliver $1.2M+ in cumulative proceeds over 10 years
– Earn $35K in Year 1 → $157K by Year 10

Returns are tied directly to cattle supplied, not manipulated by outside shareholders. Reserve, working capital, and discretionary funds safeguard against volatility and allow for continued growth.

What You Get for Your Investment

Equity Ownership: One seat = one vote + real value 
Fast Payback: Early capital returns if unspent in Year 1 
Profit Participation: Share in growing proceeds, starting Year 1 
Professional Ops: GM, admin, sales team — your investment is managed smartly 
Transferable Asset: Seats can be passed down, sold, or used for financing 
Premium Brand: Backed by AICA and managed by a national parent corporation

This is agriculture meets entrepreneurship — built for families, corporate ranches, Indigenous groups, and producers who want more than a price per pound.

Local Roots, National Reach

Each regional cooperative operates independently but under a unified brand managed by the Franchise Parent Corporation — a benefit corp owned by the American-International Charolais Association (AICA). It:

– Upholds brand consistency
– Invests in national marketing and chef outreach
– Supports legal and compliance across co-ops

This ensures every co-op grows locally with national power behind it — a system that scales without losing its soul.

Real Numbers, Real Returns

From cow-calf to processing, we break down every cost — feed, vet care, insurance, yardage — and back every assumption with USDA data and real market pricing (as of July 2025). That means:

– Transparent cost structures
– 60/40 Choice/Select grading assumptions
– Built-in margin for realistic and conservative financial planning

Our financial model isn’t fantasy. It’s a conservative plan that’s already proving profitable.

Join the Movement

A $200,000 seat buys you a stake in the future of beef:

– A voice in governance
– A share in the profits
– Collateral for growth
– And a place in history as we reshape ranching

This isn’t just about beef. It’s about building a better system for generations to come.

Download the Full Investor Document

For more information contact: Larry Dalton (587) 223-5363 yieldsolutionsinc@outlook.com

Download Full Document → 
*Includes complete financials, meat pricing tables, fund structures, and operational plans.*

The American-International Charolais Association (AICA) is partnering with Frontier’s Market and its advanced AI development team to tackle key challenges facing the beef industry—improving feed efficiency, enhancing red meat yield, increasing the accuracy of genetic selection tools for registered bulls, and expanding understanding of how genetics can address industry needs through breed complementarity and heterosis.

Doing More With Less: The Next Chapter for Charolais

The U.S. beef industry has always been defined by efficiency. Over the last seven decades, we’ve watched the cowherd shrink to its lowest level in 74 years—yet pounds of beef produced continues to climb. That’s a true testament to the hard work, creativity, and resilience of beef producers.

Charolais breeders have played a central role in this progress by creating genetics that respond to industry needs. Now, with land, labor and capital more limited than ever, it’s time to focus squarely on efficiency and red meat yield and total profitability.

From Volume to Verified Value

For decades, the industry rewarded “black-hided” commodity cattle and an over-featured focus on quality grade. But today’s economics tell a different story.

Earlier this year, Dr. Duane Wulf’s Power of Yield Industry Study compared average Charolais and Angus non-parent bull EPDs. The conclusion was clear: yield—not just quality grade—is the next major driver of profitability.Producing more pounds of high-quality beef with fewer resources is where the industry is headed—and Charolais genetics are uniquely positioned to lead.

In fact, industry benchmarks around yield value have risen by 18% in just six months. The signals are loud and clear: red meat yield matters more than ever.

Terminal Sire Index (TSI): Built for Profit

Exclusive to registered Charolais sires, the Terminal Sire Index (TSI) is the most effective selection tool for maximizing red meat yield from British-based cow herds—without compromising feed efficiency, carcass quality, or key management traits.

Refined by Dr. Bob Weaber of Kansas State University, TSI reflects current grids and market realities and combines genomic-enhanced accuracy with real-world grid value weighting.

The result: confidence in bull selection and measurable profitability in the feedyard, which serves as the industry backbone to Value Trace’s AI algorithm.

Value Trace: Proving It in Real Time

If TSI sets the direction, Value Trace delivers the proof.

Exclusive to those using registered Charolais bulls, Value Trace is the first AI-driven breed association platform that integrates:

• Feeder calf marketing opportunities
• Real-time feed efficiency & weight measurement
• Kinship determination 
• Feedlot management & health behavioral insights
• Pre-Harvest Actual Red Meat Yield Prediction, Beyond Yield Grade
• Genetic selection tools-For registered Charolais sires & commercial dams
• All backed by EPDs from registered Charolais sires, as proven by hundreds of thousands of real-world feedlot & harvest records. 

By linking genomic predictions with real-world feedyard and harvest data, Value Trace creates a powerful feedback loop that both validates EPDs and rewards producers.

Pilot Results:

• 5.9% Feed Efficiency Advantage: Charolais-sired cattle outperformed Angus-sired cattle in late-stage feed conversion.
• Reduced Losses: Fewer cases of late-term heart failure than in straight-bred Angus fed cattle.
• Profit Impact: Charolais cattle returned $1,057.03 more per head profit compared to control cattle.

Early Pull Savings: Capturing Hidden Value

Value Trace also revealed opportunities to optimize harvest timing:

• Cattle pulled early: 13%
• Profit increase: $13,115.81 total (+5.9%)
• Per head profit: $1,311.58

By shifting harvest windows, producers captured significant added value—proof that smarter data leads to stronger returns.

Why This Matters Now

Over-selection for quality grade has created unintended consequences: excessive resource use, rising feed costs, and serious yield-grade issues. The solution lies in Charolais genetics.

By enrolling calves in Value Trace, producers gain access to AI-driven insights and a premium marketplace where performance is verified—not assumed. Feeders can buy with confidence, knowing exactly what genetics bring to the table.

The market signals are here—even if the cattle to meet them aren’t. With packers developing more muscle-based grids and rewarding red meat yield, the opportunity is clear.

Remember: it takes three years from turning out a Charolais bull until his progeny are harvested. Don’t miss the window to capture the market & profit potential. 

By enrolling calves in Value Trace, producers gain access to AI-driven insights and a premium marketplace where performance is verified—not assumed. Feeders can buy with confidence, knowing exactly what genetics bring to the table-and how to manage them.

At the same time, the entire beef industry has seen a major shift in growth and performance:

• Finished feedlot weights and carcass weights have risen significantly over the past decade, with the 2025 average steer weights consistently at 1600+lbs.
• According to USDA trendlines, steer carcass weights increase by an average of 5.2 lbs per year, and heifer carcass weights by 5.5 lbs per year, as referenced by a constant upward trend over the last 45 years.
• The prediction: this trend will continue, and maybe accelerate thanks to the lowest U.S. national cowherd numbers in 74 years.

And every time carcass weights increase, Charolais genetics shine brighter. Why?

 Greater ability to grade Prime and Choice in an environment of heavier carcasses. Charolais-sired fed cattle, no matter the dam, consistently deliver Choice and Prime in today’s cattle feeding environment, plus allow for added efficiency and yield financial advantages to balance the growing U.S. problem of overly 
 Reduced risk of Bovine Congestive Heart Failure, a growing concern in high-performance cattle. Charolais genetics greatly reduce the incidence of BCHF in the nation’s largely British-based cowherd, allowing for quality grade to be expressed without early mortality. 
 Superior structural soundness to handle added weight without compromise.
 More efficient growth, delivering pounds that pay.

The Charolais Advantage

In today’s market—and the one ahead—Charolais cattle deliver quality, efficiency, and durability. With the need for rising carcass weights and continued industry emphasis on high grading cattle, Charolais-sired fed cattle are positioned to add more value than ever before.