Data Uploads and Downloads

This section covers importing data from breed associations into GEM and exporting your GEM data for local backup. All uploads follow the same general pattern: download a file from the source website, upload it here, and GEM will send a confirmation email when processing is complete.

Which upload options you see depends on your configuration. Breed-specific uploads only appear if that breed is configured in Administration → Miscellaneous Administration → Edit Client Settings.

Save My Data Locally

Downloads a ZIP file containing all of your GEM data as CSV files — one file per data category. This is useful for local backups or offline analysis.

The export includes animal records, pedigrees, EPD data, performance records, reproductive records, semen inventory, embryos, sales and auction data, people records, sets, custom views, and administration tables.

General Uploads

These uploads are available to all GEM users regardless of breed configuration.

Upload Electronic IDs

Imports electronic ID (EID) tag numbers in bulk. You create this file yourself in Excel — it is not downloaded from an association website.

File requirements: Save as .xlsx. The file must contain exactly one worksheet with no blank cells in required columns. Row 1 must contain the column headings shown below (upper or lower case is fine).

Upload Bangs IDs

Imports Brucellosis vaccination (Bangs) tag numbers in bulk. You create this file yourself in Excel.

File requirements: Save as .xlsx. Row 1 must contain the column headings below. No blank cells in required columns.

Upload Preg Checks

Imports pregnancy check results in bulk. You create this file yourself in Excel. A sample template with the correct column headings is available via the Download Sample File button on the upload form.

File requirements: Save as .xlsx with exactly one worksheet. Row 1 must use the exact column headings listed below (upper or lower case is fine). All required columns must exist in the file even if they contain no data. Column order does not matter.

Breed Association Uploads

These uploads appear only when the corresponding breed is configured in your Client Settings.

Angus (American Angus Association)

Upload Angus Data

Imports updated EPDs, pedigrees, and performance records from the AAA. Run this periodically to keep GEM current with the association's latest figures.

Getting the file from AAA:

1. Log in at the AAA member website.
2. Navigate to Reports → Interactive Tools → Custom Animal Report.
3. Configure the report:
   • Report Format: Excel Spreadsheet (.xlsx — not .xls)
   • Columns: Click Select All Columns to check every available column
   • Include: Check Show Interim Indicators, Show Accuracies, and Show EPD Percentile Ranks
   • Do not check any of the five "Must have weight data for" boxes (Birth, Weaning, Yearling, Ultrasound, Genomic)
   • Sex: All (or as needed)
   • Birth Date Range: Leave blank unless your herd exceeds 5,000 head
   • Owner Option: Select "All" if available
4. Click Search and save the resulting file when prompted. Choose Save — do not open the file in Excel. If it opens automatically, close without saving and re-download.

GEM sends a confirmation email with a summary of what was updated and any records that could not be matched.

Upload Angus Genetic Defect Data

Imports genetic condition carrier status data from the AAA.

Getting the file from AAA:

1. Navigate to DNA → Genetic Condition Tools → Potential Carrier Report.
2. Configure: Include Owners = All, Status = All, all Display Genetic Status boxes checked, Birth Date range 1/1/1970 through yesterday, Sex = All, Format = Excel Spreadsheet (.xlsx).
3. Download. Do not open in Excel before uploading.

Upload Angus EPDs from AAA EPD Request Sort

Imports EPDs for a specific subset of animals — useful when you need to update EPDs for animals not in your owned herd (up to 100 head at a time). This is a two-step process requiring two separate files.

Getting the files from AAA:

Step 1 — All EPDs except Dairy Indexes:

1. Log in at the AAA member website.
2. Navigate to Reports → EPD Reports → EPD Sorts for Current Sires/Dams/Non-Parents.
3. Set your filters (birth year range, sire progeny, etc.) to target the animals you want.
4. Check Excel Spreadsheet as the output format.
5. Do not check "Angus-On-Dairy Indexes" in this step.
6. Click Search and save the file with a new name. You may open it to verify the animals are correct, but do not re-save.

Step 2 — Dairy Indexes:

1. Repeat the same steps, using the same filters.
2. This time, check the "Angus-On-Dairy Indexes" box.
3. Save this file with a different name.

Only animals that appear in both files will have their EPDs updated. Animals must already exist in GEM — create them first if needed.

Upload Angus Sire Summary Data

Imports the AAA Sire Summary, which contains official EPD rankings for all registered sires. This updates EPDs for Sire Summary bulls even if they are not owned or controlled by you. The Sire Summary is updated by AAA each Friday. The upload form shows the date of your last successful Sire Summary import.

This is a two-step process — you must upload the Main list and the Supplemental list separately.

Getting the files from AAA (no login required):

For the Main list:

1. Go to www.angus.org.
2. Under Management/Sire Evaluation Report, choose Sire Evaluation Report.
3. Click Search the Angus Sire Evaluation Database.
4. Select the Main radio button.
5. Select Download to Excel Spreadsheet (this automatically deselects "Display first 100 Only").
6. Do not check "Exclude Tested Carriers" or any other options.
7. Click Search and save the file. Do not open or re-save the file in Excel.

For the Supplemental list:

1. Repeat the steps above, selecting the Supp radio button instead.
2. Save with a different filename.

Uploading: Upload one file at a time — once for the Main file, and then again for the Supplemental file.

Hereford (American Hereford Association)

Upload Hereford Data

Imports updated EPD data from the AHA. Be careful not to upload out-of-date files — uploading old EPDs will overwrite your current data with stale figures.

Getting the file from AHA:

1. Log in at myHerd.org.
2. Navigate to Jobs & Reports → View Reports & CSVs.
3. Change the top dropdown from "Association Instructions" to Data Extracts & CSVs.
4. Click the file you want to download. Accepted filenames are:
   • YYYYFALL_EPDS.DAT — Fall EPDs for birth year YYYY
   • YYYYSPRING_EPDS.DAT — Spring EPDs for birth year YYYY
   • FALL_HERDEPDS.DAT — Herd-wide Fall EPDs
   • SPRING_HERDEPDS.DAT — Herd-wide Spring EPDs
   • HERDEPDS.DAT — General herd EPDs
5. When prompted, choose Save. Do not open the file before uploading.

Upload Hereford Data from myHerd

An alternative Hereford import using a .csv export from the myHerd Animal Lists feature. Upload on the same day you download the file from myHerd.

Getting the file from AHA:

1. Log in at myHerd.org.
2. Use Search Tools to create or select an Animal List.
3. Within the Animal Lists page, click your list name to open it.
4. Choose the Download data link — not "Download CSV".
5. When prompted, choose Save.

Create Animal Set from Hereford File

Creates a GEM animal set from a Hereford EPD or inventory file without importing any EPD or performance data. Use this to quickly build a working set from your AHA herd listing.

Getting the file from AHA:

1. Log in at myHerd.org.
2. Navigate to Jobs & Reports → View Reports & CSVs → Data Extracts & CSVs.
3. Download one of the accepted files:
   • EPD files: YYYYFALL_EPDS.DAT, YYYYSPRING_EPDS.DAT, FALL_HERDEPDS.DAT, SPRING_HERDEPDS.DAT
   • Inventory files: SPRINGINVENT.DAT, FALLINVENT.DAT, SPRINGOUT.DAT, FALLOUT.DAT

Red Angus

Upload Red Angus Data

Imports animal and EPD data from the Red Angus Association of America (RAAA).

Getting the file from RAAA:

1. Log in at the RAAA member website with your RAAA-assigned user ID and password.
2. Click Herd Management → Download.
3. Select your group (All Active SSR Animals is a good default).
4. Select Template Job Update Extract.
5. Click Download File Animals and save the file to your computer.

This process will not work for files sent to you directly from RAAA — you must download the file yourself through the member portal.

Brangus (IBBA)

Upload Brangus Data

Imports animal and EPD data from the International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA).

Getting the file from IBBA:

1. Log in at brangus.goregstr.com with your email address and password.
2. Click the menu icon (four horizontal lines) near the top left of the page.
3. Click the arrow to the right of Exports/Reports, then choose Animal Data Export.
4. Set your birth date range (1/1/1950 to today is a good default, or narrow as needed).
5. For the checkboxes, check all options except:
   • Breed Makeup
   • Breed Owner(s)
   • Non Parent Sire (in the Percentile Rankings section)
   • The last three rows of the Percentile Rankings section (leave only Non Parent Sire Black Brangus checked)
6. Click Download Excel/CSV File and save the file. If the download fails, try again with a narrower date range.

Simmental

Upload Simmental Animal Data and Ratios

Imports animal records and performance ratios from the American Simmental Association (ASA). This is separate from the EPD upload — use the correct report type for each.

Getting the file from ASA:

1. Log in at the ASA member website.
2. Navigate to Herd Mgmt → Reports.
3. On the left, select a group from Existing Groups, Inventory, or Quick Group.
4. On the right, choose Animal Data and Ratios.
5. Click Generate Report and wait for it to display.
6. Choose Plain Text (.csv) and click Download. Only this format will load into GEM.
7. Save the file.

Upload Simmental Catalog / EPDs

Imports catalog and EPD data from the ASA to update EPD values for animals in your GEM records.

Note: The steps for this upload changed as of January 1, 2026. Follow these instructions carefully.

Getting the file from ASA:

1. Log in at the ASA member website.
2. Navigate to Herd Mgmt → Reports.
3. On the left, select a group from Existing Groups, Inventory, or Quick Group.
4. On the right, choose Default Catalog Pull.
5. Click Generate Report and wait for it to display.
6. Choose Plain Text (.csv) and click Download. Only this format will load into GEM.
7. Save the file.

Upload Simmental Defects

Imports genetic defect and carrier status data from the ASA.

Getting the file from ASA:

1. Log in at the ASA member website.
2. Navigate to Herd Mgmt → Reports.
3. On the left, select a group from Existing Groups, Inventory, or Quick Group.
4. On the right, choose Genetic Summary.
5. Click Generate Report and wait for it to display.
6. Choose Plain Text (.csv) and click Download. Only this format will load into GEM.
7. Save the file.

Charolais

Upload Charolais Data

Imports animal and EPD data from the American-International Charolais Association (AICA). You may need to repeat the download process up to four times to get all animal categories (Registered Active Males, Registered Active Females, Unregistered Active Males, Unregistered Active Females).

Getting the file from AICA:

1. Log in at the AICA member website.
2. Under Tools, choose Data Exports.
3. Under Select Export Type, choose the category you want (one at a time).
4. Under Select Data to Export, check all boxes — including the Extra Pedigree Generations box.
5. Click Create and save the file. Do not open the file in Excel — if you do, discard it and re-download.

Limousin (NALF)

Upload Limousin Data

Imports animal and EPD data from the North American Limousin Foundation (NALF).

Getting the file from NALF:

1. Log in at limousin.digitalbeef.com with your membership number and password.
2. From the left menu, choose Tools → Integration → Download.
3. Under "3rd-Party Vendor", select the GEM radio button.
4. In the Current Inventory section, make sure all checkboxes are checked (use the Check All button).
5. Click here for Download Step 1 to compile the data. A counter will run through your cattle and their parents and grandparents — wait for it to complete.
6. Click here for Download Step 2 to build the downloadable file.
7. Click Download Herdfile to save the file (gem_herdfile_mmmmmmmm.txt, where mmmmmmmm is your membership number).