At the annual Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) symposium, held in Manhattan, Kansas, June 14-17, industry leaders and experts shared insight on what progress needs to be made to ensure producer profitability and sustainability over the next 20 years.

In May, the USDA provided an update on the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Media headlines from this announcement were something along the lines of “USDA adds more than 800,000 acres to program.”

Rough-coated cattle loafing in the shade, wading in the pond or making a muddy mess at the water trough are common drive-by indications of fescue toxicity in the “fescue belt.”

283 days. Nine months. Three trimesters. Those are the numbers we tend to think of when we think of a cow’s pregnancy. But what if I told you there was a more important number? The number of “bad days” a cow has during her pregnancy.

Inbreeding is defined as the mating of related individuals. In the broadest sense, all animals within a certain breed are somewhat related.

The ability to focus intently is often a worthwhile and productive tool for one seeking improvement. However, when it comes to genetic selection – whether that focus is on calving ease or weaning weight – that intense focus can often have unintended, and sometimes disastrous consequences.

Commercial cattlemen are continually encouraged by university beef cattle specialists to use expected progeny differences (EPDs) when purchasing herd sires to help ensure they buy the animal that fits their breeding plans and ranch environment. EPDs are a useful tool for identifying bulls that will likely produce the desired type of calves.

Genomics technology in the beef industry has rapidly advanced over the last decade. It is sometimes difficult for animal scientists, much less the average beef producer, to keep current on the latest genomics technology on the market.

Cattle genetics are no longer just the focus of the registered breeder. Every producer strives to constantly enhance their herd each generation to make increasingly better cows that will produce more offspring at a better weaning rate with increased sale weights and that live longer.