Agricultural Livestock and Poultry Program AHA Specification

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AMERICAN HEREFORD ASSOCIATION

LIVE ANIMAL SPECIFICATION

CERTIFIED HEREFORD BEEF

1 SCOPE

This specification sets forth the requirements for live cattle which qualify for certification in approved 

beef programs claiming Hereford influence. Cattle may be qualified for these programs by meeting 

either the Genotype or Phenotype requirements specified below. 

2 REQUIREMENTS

2.1 Genotype. Cattle eligible for Hereford influence beef programs based on genotype must 

have positive identification (ear tags, tattoos, brands, etc.) and be traceable back to provable (e.g., 

registration papers) Hereford parentage. Qualifying cattle must be traceable to one registered 

parent or two registered grandparents. Programs which claim a specified percentage of Hereford

heritage must use this method. Qualification can be based upon a signed affidavit provided by 

the cattle breeder that verifies the cattle are at least genetically 1⁄2 Hereford breeding and 100% 

British bred (Angus, Red Angus, Shorthorn, Hereford, or South Devon). All genotype cattle 

must be the direct offspring of a registered Hereford bull or cow. This affidavit must be 

submitted to a representative of the American Hereford Association (AHA) prior to feedlot 

qualification. Cattle qualifying by genotype documentation must be presented for harvest as a 

unique lot separated from all phenotype qualified cattle and non-qualifying cattle and designated 

as “Genotype” cattle on the kill sheet. Genotype qualified cattle may not change ownership after 

they have been assigned an official AHA lot number and have been approved for harvest. 

2.2 Phenotype. Cattle eligible for certification in Hereford influence beef programs based on 

phenotype (appearance) must have a predominately (51%) white face. Cattle must exhibit white 

markings over the jaw, forehead, and muzzle. Cattle must have white markings on all three locations 

or they are unacceptable. Cattle must exhibit some or all of the traditional markings of a Hereford or 

Hereford/English crossbred animal such as white on the face and neck. White markings on any part of 

the hip, shoulder or side of the body such as spots, stripes, or belts are not acceptable. Cattle offered 

for qualification other than solid red, solid black, or roan with a predominately white face, such as 

yellow, gray, brown, brindle, or smoke are ineligible. Carcasses of certified live animals which display 

certain non-Hereford characteristics (e.g., dairy conformation, Holsteins, Brahman humps) will be 

excluded as specified in the carcass specifications for approved programs. Steers and heifers presented 

for AHA qualification must be of beef type breeding. Animals must express some evidence of muscle 

bulge. Although not limited to, this bulge is best observed in the large muscles of the round. An 

animal expressing dairy type breeding (dairy-type head, prominent “hook” bones, large “barrel-like” 

body, etc.) typically has muscles in the round which are semi-flat to concave or “dished” in 

appearance. Such animals are not acceptable. Cattle offered for qualification must not have an
Agricultural Livestock and Poultry Program AHA Specification

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excessive hump on the withers (protruding above the top line), excessively long ears (ears that project 

downward from the head) or an elongated head indicative of bos indicus genetics. The hump on the 

withers should not be confused with a crest on the neck, which is normal for many thick muscled 

cattle, particularly males. To qualify, cattle may be either horned or polled. Bulls, bullocks, or cows 

are not acceptable.

3 QUALITY ASSURANCE PROVISIONS

3.1 Genotype. Compliance with genotypic requirements must be determined and controlled 

through a Quality Assessment Division (QAD) approved quality management program. 

3.2 Phenotype. Three options are available to ensure that live animals comply with the specified 

requirements: (1) Continuous USDA supervision, (2) Ante-mortem lot inspection, and (3) 

program monitoring. Under the first two options, QAD personnel certify that the animals 

meet the specified requirements prior to harvest. Procedures for these two options will be 

developed on an individual plant basis and must be approved by the local QAD supervisor. 

Under option 3, the procedures described in 3.2.1 are followed. 

3.2.1 Program Monitoring Procedures.

Certified Hereford Beef (CHB) Harvest Monitoring Procedures 

At the time of harvest the approved personnel must determine those animals that meet the CHB Live 

Animal Specifications and identify the carcasses of those animals with a “C” stamp. With regard to 

cattle that are genetically identified, the identity of the qualifying lot must be maintained until the “C” 

stamp is applied to the carcass.

Quality Assessment Division personnel must conduct unannounced, random checks of the AHA 

approved personnel to monitor compliance with these procedures. AHA approved personnel must be 

designated with a program specified helmet sticker. QAD personnel must observe the work of the 

approved plant employee for a period of two to five minutes. During that period defects must be 

recorded for any animal which is identified with a “C” stamp, but which fails to meet one or more of 

the specified requirements.

Frequency of observations must be determined according to the rate of harvest during a designated 

work shift as shown in Table 1. Any observations shown in Table II as defects must be recorded 

during each monitoring period. 
Agricultural Livestock and Poultry Program AHA Specification

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TABLE I. MONITORING FREQUENCY

Harvest Rate Frequency 1/ 

Number of cattle/shift Number of monitoring periods 2/

 Up to 500 2 

 501 – 1,000 4 

 1,001 – 1,500 6 

 1,501 – 2,000 8 

 Over 2,000 10 

1/ The QAD personnel must randomly determine the times of actual observation before the 

beginning of the harvest shift.

2/ The QAD personnel must observe the work of the approved plant employee for a period of not 

less than 2 nor more than 5 minutes. 
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TABLE II. LIVE ANIMAL AND CARCASS DEFECTS

Defect Categories

Major Minor Defects 

101 30 percent or less of the face is white. 

 201 31 percent to 50 percent of the face is white. 

102 Cattle with 50 percent white face are other than solid red, solid black, or 

roan. 

 202 Cattle with 50 percent white face are light red and do not show 

additional Hereford markings. 

103 Cattle with markings on the hip, shoulder, or side of the body including 

spots, stripes, or belts. 

104 Presence of two or more of the following bos indicus indicators: 

excessive hump, excessive ears, or bos indicus head. 

 204 Presence of one of the following bos indicus indicators: excessive hump, 

excessive ears, or bos indicus head. 

105 Animal qualified which has predominant dairy characteristics. 

 205 Animal qualified which has noticeable, but not predominant, dairy 

characteristics. 

106 Non-approved plant employees performing live animal identification. 

 206 Unidentified approved plant employee performing live animal 

identification. 

107 Carcass in cooler with CHB roll that does not have a “C” stamp or a 

USDA “Accepted as Specified” stamp over the “grade schedule” 

marking. 

 207 “C” stamp not placed on approved area of carcass

108 Identity of genetically qualified cattle is not maintained up to the point at 

which the “C” stamp is applied to the carcass. 

109 Carcass of a bull, bullock, or cow identified with “C” stamp. 
Agricultural Livestock and Poultry Program AHA Specification

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Defects 101, 201, 102, and 202 apply to cattle that are not genotype qualified. As long as no 

defects are observed under program monitoring the designated frequency of monitoring must 

continue. 

However, observation of any major defect, two minor defects within a week, or three minor defects 

within four weeks, will immediately result in accelerated monitoring. Under accelerated 

monitoring the frequency of monitoring must be doubled. If no defects are observed during two 

weeks of accelerated monitoring, the plant must revert to the normal monitoring level. If any 

major defect or two minor defects are observed under accelerated monitoring the identification 

program must be placed under 100% QAD supervision for four weeks. After four weeks of 100% 

supervision, the program will revert to accelerated monitoring before going to normal monitoring. 

____________________________ 

Chad Nelson, National Meat Supervisor 

Standards and Specifications Division 

Livestock & Poultry Program