Volume VIII Number 5 September/October 2000

Kansas Hosts Beef Improvement Federation Conference





More than 500 producers and industry representatives attended the 2000 Conference and Research Symposium held by the Beef Improvement Federation (BIF). The conference was held in Wichita, Kansas, on July 12-15-2000.

BIF was formed as a means to standardize programs and methodology. Also create greater awareness, acceptance and usage of beef cattle performance concepts.

"The main thrust of the organization is the predictions of genetics and performance test guidelines." said Dr. Larry V. Cundiff of the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, in Clay Center, Nebraska.
A very interesting stop on the tour was the
Reeve Cattle Co. in Garden City, KS. This is
a large feedlot, which runs the corn through a
distillery to produce ethanol, de-waters the
corn mash after distilling, and feeds the mash
and liquid to the cattle. Water used to
cool the still is then used to raise tropical
fish, Talipia, then market the fish locally.


BIF is a non profit organization funded by dues from member organizations. Member organizations include breed associations, state and provincial beef cattle improvement associations (BCIA) and other national associations involved in beef cattle performance programs. A board of directors elected from these member organizations governs the activities of BIF.

BIF was formed in 1968 with the goal of standardizing beef cattle performance records and promoting genetic improvement of cattle. BIF came on the scene at a time when new breed associations were forming and the associations and state BCIA's were using a variety of different methods for reporting data. BIF published the first Guidelines for Uniform Beef Improvement Programs in 1970. Now in its 7th edition, Guidelines is the standard reference for beef performance programs in North America.

During the early days of sire evaluation, BIF pulled together breed associations, university personnel and cattle producers to develop standards for calculating and reporting EPDs. Much of the standardization that exists today in performance records is due to the work of BIF's Genetic Prediction Committee and BIF sponsored Genetic Prediction Workshops.

Today, BIF is considered a world leader in beef cattle performance programs and continues to work toward standardization of beef cattle records. Currently, BIF's working committees include Genetic Prediction, Multiple Trait, Emerging Technology, Live Animal and Carcass Evaluation, Producer Application and Whole Herd Reporting.

The opening session introduced speakers from Australia and New Zealand, as well as from the U.S. who focused on economically relevant traits for the beef industry.

Discussions covered: biotechnology and electronics in the beef business, emerging technology, live animal, carcass endpoints, genetic prediction, whole herd analysis, producer applications, and multiple trait selections.

Winding down the first day, the Doyle Creek Land & Cattle Co. hosted a tour of the Kansas Flint Hills given by the Randy Mills family.
A group of Red Angus calfs at the Pelton Ranch
near Burdett, Kansas.

Two industry tours were offered on the final day of the conference. These visits were to some of the most progressive cattle feeders and producers in Kansas.

The Southwest Kansas Swing tour included; Hitch Feeders of Garden City, Kans.; The Giles Ranch of Ashland, Kans., - awarded the 1999 BIF Commercial Producer of the Year; The Gardiner Angus Ranch of Ashland, Kans., - awarded the 1981 BIF Commercial Producer of the Year and the 1987 BIF Seedstock Producer of the Year; Reeve Cattle Co, of Garden City, Kans., - a diversified operation including cattle feeding, ethanol production and fish production; and Triangle H Feeders of Garden City, Kans., - a commercial feedlot and the 1982 BIF Commercial Producer of the Year.

The Post Rock country tour included stops at Green Garden Angus Ranch of Ellsworth, Kans., Thielen Ranch of Dorrance, Kans., and Lane County Feeders of Dighton, Kans., - a commercial cattle feeding operation using the electronic cattle management system.

The tours concluded at Pelton Simmental and Red Angus near Burdett, Kansas.

Major sponsors of the 'Beef Improvement Federation's 2000 Convention' were Bayer, BioZyme, Certified Angus Beef, ConAgra, Excel Corp. eMerge Interactive, Farm Credit Services, Farmland, IBP, MoorMan's, Pfizer and Purina 











  

   
   

   


   

   		
  
   



  

    



All information is copywrited by Feed Lot magazine and cannot be printed or re-printed
  without the publishers express consent. Please contact
  Feed Lot Magazine for reprint and copy authorization.