Beef Improvement Federation
some of the first to collect large quantities
of feed efficiency data and worked closely
with staff at NALF to produce an across-
breed feed efficiency index for in-house
selection and customer information.
“Jerry was a driver behind increasing use of
genomics in selection and collected thousands
of samples from the earliest days of genomics
until today,” Epperly says. “He worked with his
brother, Duane, to produce three proprietary
indexes for their customers: First Calf Heifers,
Mainstream Terminal Sires, Mainstream
Markets Keeping Replacements, which they
continue to update and publish annually.”
More than 500 beef producers, academia and
industry representatives attended the
organization’s 51st annual convention. BIF’s
mission is to help improve the industry
by promoting greater acceptance of beef
cattle performance evaluation. LT
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.
Jerry Wulf, Morris, Minnesota, received the Beef Improvement Federation Pioneer Award. Family members pictured (from left) are Travis
and Rita Moser; Linda and Jerry Wulf; Robyn and son Blaze Metzger; and Rhonda Wulf.
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