Introducing BIF
Former executive director shares history of the organization, its mission and its vision during inaugural Young Producers Symposium.
BILOXI, Miss. (June 9, 2015) — The Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) has the legacy of standardizing scientific data and making it available for producers in an easily accessible format. Red Angus Association of America CEO Twig Marston covered the history of the organization at the Young Producers Symposium during the 2015 BIF Annual Convention in Biloxi, Miss., June 9-13.
BIF forefathers standardized measurements, Twig Marston said, noting as a sidebar that 205 days was established as the average age at weaning because that was the average weaning age of the calves in the academic paper used to establish the performance measure.
In 1967 the first formal meeting of the BIF focused on the issues facing state-centered breed-improvement associations as a whole. With no standardized way of monitoring data between states or even breeds, the associations were looking to pool efforts and develop uniform guidelines for data collection and analysis, Marston said.
“It was a new generation,” Marston said, “It was a mix of academia and industry coming together that made for an interesting mix when looking at their intelligence and thought process.”
BIF forefathers standardized measurements, Marston said, noting as a sidebar that 205 days was established as the average age at weaning because that was the average weaning age of the calves in the academic paper used to establish the performance measure.
BIF Mission:
“To develop cooperation among all segments of the beef industry in the compilation and utilization of performance records to improve efficiency, profitability and sustainability of beef production.”
— beefimprovement.org
The BIF acted with five purposes — uniformity, development, cooperation, education and confidence — that form the organization’s mission statement today.
The BIF logo, created in the early 70s, is a reflection of those purposes and the unique group of individuals involved in the organization. Three triangles representing industry, research and extension form an eye-catching and symbolic brand.
Marston emphasized the friction that occurred when passionate people began to debate economically relative traits in composite versus straight-bred cattle. He referred to the 1995 conference as being a place where new ideas were heatedly debated.
An emphasis on education and adaptation has always been a part of the BIF mission, Marston says.
“BIF was formed because those people were interested in making money; they had an economic driver,” Marston says. “They wanted to build a culture based on pioneers in their field that held firmly to the belief that they should be based on facts and figures, not fads.”
The 2015 BIF Annual Convention was hosted by Mississippi State University and the Mississippi Extension Service June 9-12 at the Beau Rivage Casino and Hotel in Biloxi. The Angus Journal and LiveAuctions.tv provide comprehensive online coverage of the event at www.BIFconference.com. Visit the Newsroom for summaries, proceedings, PowerPoints and audio of the sessions; the Awards page for announcements of award winners; and the Photos page for galleries of photos from the meeting and the tours.
Editor’s Note: This summary was written under contract or by staff of the Angus Journal®. Through an agreement with the Beef Improvement Federation, we are encouraging reprinting of the articles to those who will adhere to the reprint guidelines available on this site. Please review those guidelines or contact Shauna Rose Hermel, editor, at 816-383-5270. PowerPoints are posted with permission of the presenter and may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express permission of the presenter.
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