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

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