DNA Test Now Available for Hydrops 

The American Simmental Association is now offering a DNA test for the Hydrops condition. Beginning July 14, 2026, members can order the $34 stand-alone test on the DNA order form. The expected turnaround time will be four weeks. 

Descendants of WS All Aboard B80 (ASA# 2852207) are at risk for carrying the genetic abnormality. Females who carry the mutation may develop a serious condition during late gestation that results in excess fluid in the fetal membrane. This typically causes the loss of the calf and occasionally the dam. With the support of the ASA Board of Trustees, ASA staff has been working closely with the University of Nebraska–Lincoln to identify the mutation responsible for Hydrops, and now GeneSeek has developed a commercially available test based on these findings. As part of developing the test, GeneSeek tested a batch of DNA samples from WS All Aboard descendants and those results were loaded into Trait Trac.

The Hydrops test is available to ASA members at cost. This decision — made by the ASA Board of Trustees and ASA leadership — supports the identification of this serious, costly condition. The Association has invested significant funding and time in the development of this test, and wanted to ensure that testing is as accessible as possible for members and commercial producers who may have purchased a SimGenetics bull with potential carrier daughters in their herd. 

For questions regarding established WS All Aboard B80 genetics, Hydrops symptoms, reporting an active case, or additional information, please visit the Hydrops Information Center or reach out to Jackie Atkins at jatkins@simmgene.com. To order a test, click here.