F.L. Smith III, of Natchez, is a new member of the American Angus Association, reports John Crouch, executive vice president of the national breed registry organization in Saint Joseph, Mo.

The American Angus Association, with more than 34,000 active adult and junior members, is the largest beef cattle registry association in the world. Its computerized records include detailed information on more than 14 million registered Angus.

The association records ancestral information and keeps production records on individual animals for its members. These permanent records help members select and mate the best animals in their herds to produce high quality, efficient breeding cattle which are then recorded with the American Angus Association. Most of these registered Angus are used by the U.S. farmers and ranchers who raise high quality beef for U.S. consumption.