National animal id has come a long way very quickly. DNA testing is certainly a part of this whole process. Now ViaGen has received USDA approval of it’s DNA verified beef program.

Today they held a press conference to discuss the program. You can listen to the first 8 minutes of the press conference here.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved ViaGen’s groundbreaking DNA verified beef program. The new program trademarked AnguSure™, uses genetic testing to verify the genetic heritage of animals sold as “Angus.” Cattle with a high percentage of Angus have been shown to reliably produce the quality beef required by many premium brands. The program is supplemental to existing requirements for all USDA-certified Angus programs.

Other than a registered pedigree, a DNA test is the only way to confirm genetic heritage. AnguSure utilizes ViaGen’s patented genetic breed identification technology to quantify the amount of Angus genetics in any cattle DNA sample. The tested animal is compared to more than 275 registered Angus bulls, which have collectively sired more than 100,000 calves in the last decade.