From the Fall 2002 issue of the Isa Informer

Choice cuts from BIF convention

I recently attended the Beef Improvement Federation Convention in Omaha. The theme was “Focus on Efficiency.” Following are a few nuggets I picked up that you may find interesting.

• We currently have a grading system, which simultaneously rewards the production of fat (grade) and lean (yield).

• Don’t lose the value of heterosis by turning them all black.

• Don’t harm the cow’s ability to convert low quality forage.

• Efficiency measures the effectiveness of resource allocation.

• As you increase the genetic potential for performance, you increase your costs.

• The tonnage of beef produced today is the same as the 1970s—with 23% fewer cows.

• A 10% change in feed efficiency will improve feedlot efficiency by 48%.

• More efficient cattle lay down their gains as lean.

• We must select for optimal—not maximum— performance in a given trait or, better yet, a set of traits.

Lorenzo Lasater,
President