Award Winners

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 19, 2014

For more information contact:
Joe Cassady, executive director, Beef Improvement Federation, South Dakota State University; 605-688-5165; www.BIFconference.com; www.beefimprovement.org

For a high-resolution photo of the winner, click here.

 

Warren Snelling Recognized with BIF Continuing Service Award

LINCOLN, Neb. (June 19, 2014) — The Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) honored Dr. Warren Snelling with the Continuing Service Award during the organization’s 46^th Annual Meeting & Research Symposium in Lincoln, Neb., June 18-21.

Continuing Service Award winners have made major contributions to BIF efforts. This includes serving on the board of directors, speaking at BIF conventions, working on BIF guidelines and other behind-the-scenes activities. As BIF is a volunteer organization, it is the contribution of time and passion for the beef cattle industry that keeps BIF moving forward.

Snelling graduated from Kansas State University and completed a master’s degree at Colorado State University in 1988. After graduation, he worked in a lab where he took the lead producing genetic evaluations for a number of cattle breeds and organizations for nearly six years. While working in the lab, Snelling completed his doctorate in 1994, which resulted in the first expected progeny difference (EPD) for stayability.

He later worked at Beefbooster Management out of Calgary, Canada, and in 2001 became a research geneticist for the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center at Clay Center, Neb., where he remains in a leadership role. While at Clay Center, he has been responsible for or collaborated in a number of important and innovative projects. His work is largely focused on genomic analysis, and he has authored and co-authored numerous important papers, including the well-known 2010 science publication on the Genomic Sequence of Taurine Cattle.

Snelling also has worked with Line 1 Hereford data, developed some of the first DNA QTL maps and linkage maps, including coordinating an international effort to construct a composite linkage-radiation hybrid map of the bovine genome sequence. Snelling has led research into genome-wide association studies that have revealed portions of the genome associated with growth, feedlot intake and carcass fat. 

Snelling’s leadership includes serving on the editorial board for the Journal of Animal Science. He is also an associate editor for BMC Genomics.

Snelling and his wife, Lynetta, live outside of Lawrence, Neb., where they raise hay and horses, and he rides in the annual Pony Express reenactment.

He was presented the BIF Continuing Service Award at a luncheon Thursday, June 19. Also receiving Continuing Service Awards were Larry Kuehn of the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, Neb.; Susan Willmon of the American Gelbvieh Association, Westminster, Colo.; and Wade Shafer of the American Simmental Association, Bozeman, Mont.

For more information about this year’s symposium, including additional award winners and coverage of meeting and tours, visit www.BIFconference.com. For more information about the BIF organization, visit www.beefimprovement.org.

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About BIF:

The Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) is an organization dedicated to coordinating all segments of the beef industry — from researchers and producers to retailers — in an effort to improve the efficiency, profitability and sustainability of beef production. The organization was initiated almost 70 years ago to encourage the use of objective measurements to evaluate beef cattle. Continuing the tradition, BIF is now the clearinghouse for developing standardized programs and methodologies for recording of performance data for all traits, from birth weights to carcass traits. Its three-leaf-clover logo symbolizes the link between industry, extension and research.

About www.BIFconference.com:

The www.BIFconference.com website is an event coverage site compiled by the Angus Journal staff as a service to its subscribers and the beef industry at large. The Angus Journal’s coverage of this event is made possible through the collaboration of BIF; host organizations including the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center at Clay Center, and the Nebraska Cattlemen; and LiveAuctions.tv, which provided live-streaming video during the event and video for archival purposes. The Angus Journal encourages reprinting of the articles by those who adhere to the reprint guidelines available on the site.

About Angus Journal:

The Angus Journal is the flagship publication of the American Angus Association and a primary means of communication with its membership. Published 12 times each year, the magazine communicates important information about Association programs and services; reports news from shows, events and sales; and provides production, marketing and management information that seedstock breeders need to be successful. The publication also serves an effective vehicle for producers to use in marketing their herds to other members around the country. Advertisements are offered in a variety of sizes at rates to match most budgets, and a creative staff is available to help design an eye-catching layout.