From The Gatepost

By Bruce Holmquist General Manager, Canadian Simmental Association

Beef Improvement Federation 2023 Convention

The Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) was founded in 1968 as an organization dedicated to coordinating, advancing, and improving all segments of the beef industry. Over the past 55 years, the BIF has connected science and industry to improve beef cattle genetics throughout North America and around the world. As it has grown, BIF has attracted producers and academia annually from numerous countries and has become one of the leading genetic improvement organizations in the world. While not policy setting organization they do develop guidelines that most breed associations use in their genetic evaluations.

While BIF primarily holds its conferences in the United States near one of the many Land Grant Universities, it was Canada’s turn to host this year in Calgary through the Canadian Beef Breeds Council. The event was well attended and provided an interesting mix of topics and presentations delivered by leading producers and researchers. A broad cross-section of the industry gathered although it would have been great to have seen more producers attend. Canadian Simmental was represented by its CSA Executive committee, Shane Williams, Byron Johnson, Scott Matthews. Also attending was Barb Judd, Sean McGrath and myself.

Some of the topics focused on during the event revolved around several areas of beef production including resource management, animal health and immunity response, as well as the environment with a focus on green-house gases and methane. Sustainability remains an important topic within agriculture and food production, especially as it applies to livestock production. It is very clear that breed associations need to not only remain abreast of the expectations placed on beef production but also to provide leadership when others won’t. We are the drivers of genetic improvement for the beef industry.

One of the biggest recent changes in beef production is the application of beef genetics within North American dairy herds. One of the offsite tours was to Rimrock Feeders, a thirty-five thousand head feedlot that has a very large number of beef crossed with dairy on feed, approximately eighty percent. These calves are brought to the lot at a young age and grouped and fed accordingly. Rimrock Feeders is just one of several feedlots that are bolstering their numbers through dairy influenced animals.

The Thursday tour finished at Hamilton Farms near Cochrane with a fabulous meal and a presentation by Troy Drake, as well as a meatcutting demonstration which showed how value can easily be added through cutting out specific muscle cuts.

International Genetic Solutions (IGS) played a prominent role in both messaging and sponsorship of the event and had a full contingent in attendance. It was great to once again interact and exchange notes on our common efforts in the improvement and promotion of the beef in North America and to renew relationships with American Simmental Association staff and Simmental breeders from New Zealand and Australia.

It was a special honor for Sean McGrath and myself to be awarded BIF Continuing Service Awards. Congratulations to David Bolduc who was presented with the BIF Pioneer award, and Douglas Lake Ranch for receiving the commercial producer of the year. In the end the BIF 2023 Conference was a great success. For a full list of award winners go to https://beefimprovement.org/2023-symposium/2023-awards/.

Congratulations to all involved in hosting BIF 2023. The Canadian Simmental Association was proud to be part of it.