Beef Improvement Federation Research Symposium and Convention
Beef Improvement Federation Research Symposium and Convention
June 22-25, 2021 • Iowa Event Center • Des Moines, Iowa

53rd Annual BIF Research Symposium and Convention

June 22-25, 2021 • Iowa Events Center, Des Moines, Iowa

 
Tuesday, June 22, 2021
Young Producer Symposium: Profitability in Balance
1:00 p.m. Managing for Profitability — John Locke, Ranching for Profit instructor and J.D. Hudgins Inc. manager
1:45 p.m. Building a Brand — Rachel Cutrer, Ranch House Designs owner
2:30 p.m. Break
3:00 p.m. Breeding for Profitability: Keeping Balance for the Long Haul — Producer panel including Steve Radakovich, Bart Jones and Mary Ann Kniebel. Moderated by Brian McCulloh.
5:00 p.m. Opening Reception
7:00 p.m. National Association of Animal Breeders Symposium — Beef on Dairy – What’s going on and Why?
 
  • The changing AI landscape: Don Trimmer, Alta Genetics
  • Using beef genetics in a modern dairy : Lynn Boadwine, Boadwine Farms Inc.
  • The benefits of beef on dairy: Randall Grimmius, Grimmius Cattle Company
   
Wednesday, June 23, 2021
General Session I: Beef Industry: Where is it Going?
8:00 a.m. Opening Comments and Welcome — John Lawrence, Iowa State University vice president for extension and outreach
8:15 a.m. Meat Consumer Purchasing Trends & Expectations — Michael Uetz, Midan Marketing managing principal
9:00 a.m. Lessons From Other Industries in Genetics — Jim Pillen, Pillen Family Farms owner
9:45 a.m. Break
10:15 a.m. We Can Sell More Beef — Dan Thomson, Iowa State University Department of Animal Science chair
11:00 a.m. What I Heard — Troy Marshall, American Angus Association director of commercial industry relations
11:30 a.m. Panel Discussion with morning speakers — moderated by Troy Marshall
Noon Awards Luncheon: Presentation of BIF Commercial Producer, Continuing Service and Ambassador awards and Roy Wallace Scholarship
2:00 p.m. Technical Breakouts: Advancements in Genomics and Genetic Prediction — Chair: Mark Thallman, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center
  • 2:00 p.m. Genomic Dissection and Prediction of Bull Fertility — Francisco Peñagaricano, University of Wisconsin assistant professor in quantitative genetics
  • 2:40 p.m. Proposed Guideline Revisions for Contemporary Groups — Mark Thallman, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center research geneticist, and Matt Spangler, University of Nebraska-Lincoln professor and beef genetics specialist
  • 3:20 p.m. Break
  • 3:40 p.m. Low-pass Sequencing Reveals Functional Genomics Affecting Cow Weight and Productivity — Warren Snelling, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center research geneticist
  • 4:20 p.m. Developments in Research and Implementation supporting Genomic Prediction for Australian beef cattle — Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit Staff, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia
2:00 p.m. Technical Breakout: Advancements in Producer Applications — Chair: Darrh Bullock, University of Kentucky Extension professor
  • 2:00 p.m. Understanding the Value of Accuracy — Matt Spangler, University of Nebraska–Lincoln professor and beef genetics specialist
  • 2:45 p.m. Milk: Benefit or Burden — Ben Crites, University of Kentucky
  • 3:20 p.m. Break
  • 3:30 p.m. Selecting for Dollars: Putting Selection Indices to Work — Troy Rowan, University of Tennessee assistant professor
  • 4:15 p.m. Target Selection to Meet Consumer Demands — Jennifer Bormann, Kansas State University professor of beef breeding and genetics
2:00 p.m. Technical Breakout: Advancements in Efficiency and Adaptability — Chair: Mark Enns, Colorado State University
  • 2:00 p.m. Calving Ease Cows: Optimal or Extreme? — Gary Bennett, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center supervisory research geneticist
  • 2:45 p.m. An Introduction to the ARS Beef Grand Challenge Project — Larry Kuehn, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center research geneticist
  • 3:15 p.m. Break
  • 3:30 p.m. A Piece of the Adaptability Puzzle: Multi-breed Hair-shedding Genetic Effects and EPDs — Jared Decker, University of Missouri associate professor
  • 4:15 p.m. Sire Differences Within Heart and Heart Fat Score in Beef Cattle — Isabella Kukor, Colorado State University
5:00 p.m. Travel to Ames
6:00 p.m. Evening Social and Dinner at Hansen Agriculture Learning Center, Iowa State University
Welcome — Dan Robison, ISU College of Agriculture and Life Sciences dean
   
Thursday, June 24, 2021
General Session II: Precision Livestock Technology
7:45 a.m. Announcements
8:00 a.m. Gene Editing Today and in the Future — Alison Van Eenennaam, University of California– Davis Animal Genomics and Biotechnology
8:45 a.m. The Role of Technology in the Beef Industry — Justin Sexten, Precision Livestock Analytics vice president of strategy
9:30 a.m. Break
10:00 a.m. Applying Precision Technologies: Panel Discussion — moderated by Justin Sexten
  • Early implications of intelligent intake management on selection — Pat Wall, Iowa State University extension specialist
  • Our experience with behavior-monitoring ear tags — Reiss Bruning, Bruning Farms
  • Our experience with virtual fencing systems — Cody Jorgensen, Jorgensen Land and Livestock
11:00 a.m. What I Heard — Scott Greiner, Virginia Tech University Extension beef and sheep specialist
11:15 a.m. BIF Board of Directors Caucuses and Elections
Noon Awards Luncheon:
Presentation of BIF Pioneer and Seedstock Producer awards, Frank Baker & Larry Cundiff scholarships, retiring president’s comments, introduction of newly elected BIF Board of Directors and invitation to BIF 2022
2:00 p.m. Technical Breakouts: Advancements in Emerging Technology — Chair: Megan Rolf, Kansas State University
  • 2:00 p.m. Multi-breed Genetic Evaluation: How Does It Work for Seedstock and Commercial Cattle? — Randie Culbertson, American Simmental Association
  • 2:40 p.m. Gene-Edited Food Animals: The Path from Proof of Concept to Commercial Use — Tad Sonstegard, Recombinetics
  • 3:20 p.m. Break
  • 3:30 p.m. Use of Advanced Reproductive Technologies and Inclusion of These Records in Genetic Evaluation — Mark Thallman, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center
  • 4:10 p.m. Practical Examples of Machine Learning in Animal Breeding — Matt Spangler, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
2:00 p.m. Technical Breakouts: Advancements in End Product Improvement — Chair: Tommy Perkins, West Texas A&M University
  • 2:00 p.m. Ultrasound Guidelines Council Update — Patrick Wall, Ultrasound Guidelines Council executive director
  • 2:30 p.m. Impact of Ultrasound, Carcass and Genomic Data on Body Composition Expected Progeny Differences — Kelli Retallick, American Angus Association
  • 3:15 p.m. Break
  • 3:45 p.m. Use of New Generation Ultrasound Equipment to Collect Carcass Data — Tommy Perkins, West Texas A&M University
  • 4:15 p.m. Genomics Use in Improving Meat Quality in Cattle — Raluca Mateescu, University of Florida
2:00 p.m. Technical Breakouts: Advancements in Selection Decisions — Matt Spangler, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
  • 2:00 p.m. An Update on and Demonstration of iGenDec — Matt Spangler, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
  • 2:40 p.m. Examining the impact of situational indexes on selection decisions — Bruce Golden, Theta Solutions, LLC
  • 3:25 p.m. Break
  • 3:40 p.m. An Overview of Economic Selection Indexes Offered by American Breeds — John Genho, Neogen
  • 4:20 p.m. Using Beef on Dairy Data to Increase the Accuracy of Selection Decisions for Carcass Traits — Bob Weaber, Kansas State University
5:00 p.m. Cocktail hour
6:00 p.m. Dinner in Des Moines (not included in registration)
   
Friday, June 25, 2021
Post-conference Tours: Eastern Iowa or Western Iowa
7:30 a.m. Load buses
6:00 p.m. Return to Iowa Events Center











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