News Update
March 2, 2009

California Beef Rush 2009
An international Beef Improvement Conference is set for Sacramento, Calif., April 30-May 3, 2009.

The Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) will hold its annual research symposium and meetings in Sacramento, Calif., April 30-May 3, 2009. Topics for discussion at the “California Beef Rush 2009” will include beef cattle reproduction and beef cattle cost efficiency.

BIF works with cattle breeders to improve the science and technology applied by the beef industry with the purpose of improving production. More than 450 cattle breeders, commercial producers, university researchers and supporting businesses and organizations are expected to attend the four-day conference.

On Friday, May 1, the program will look at the value of genome selection in beef cattle reproduction with a panel of industry experts including Mike Goddard, chief scientist of the Beef CRC, University of Melbourne, Australia; Dorian Garrick of Iowa State University (ISU); and Ben Brophy of Cargill Meat Solutions.

On Saturday, May 2, the program will focus on enhanced standards involving beef cattle cost efficiency. Tom Field, representing the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) will moderate a panel of experts including Dave Daley, California State University, Chico; John Lawrence, ISU; Mike Smith of Harris Ranch Beef Co., California; and Chip Ramsey of Rex Ranch, Nebraska.

A preconference tour Thursday, April 30, will visit Five Star Land & Livestock, owned and operated by Mark and Abby Nelson; and Duane Martin and Son, one of the top 10 cow-calf operators in the United States. Participants will see a cutting horse demonstration at Rancho Murietta’s equine facility and visit a winery.

The post-conference tour Sunday, May 3, will visit Drake’s Bay Family Farm, which raises grass-fed beef and oysters, and Bodega Bay Marine Laboratory. Space for these tours is limited. Attendees are encouraged to register early to be included.

The conference will take place at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Sacramento, Calif. For registration and hotel information visit www.calcattlemen.org/bif2009.html. The special BIF hotel rate at the Sheraton Hotel is $139.00 per night, available only through April 3, 2009. Hotel reservations at this special group rate can be made online at www.calcattlemen.org/bif2009/sheratongrandhotel.html.

Angus Productions Inc. (API) will provide online coverage of the event at www.bifconference.com. Visit the site now for a schedule, information about the tours and links to hotel and registration information. Visit the site after the meeting for summaries, PowerPoints, photo galleries, award winners and more.

For additional information or conference details you may also contact the organizing committee co-chairs Alison Van Eenennaam at 530-752-7942 or alvane@ucdavis.edu, or Terry Jochim at 916-709-2159 or dustytrl@cattlemen.net.

Editor’s note: This release was provided by the California Beef Cattle Improvement Association, 10492 East Lime Kiln Rd., Grass Valley, CA 95949-8103; 530-274-9543.

2009 BIF SYMPOSIUM
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29
10 a.m.-6 p.m. - Registration, Sheraton Grand Hotel

THURSDAY, APRIL 30
6 a.m.-6 p.m. - Registration, Sheraton Grand Hotel
7 a.m.-4 p.m. - “Foothill bovines, equines and fine wines” tour (East Tour)
1 p.m.-4 p.m. - BIF board meeting
5 p.m.-7 p.m. - Welcome reception, sponsored by Pfizer Animal Genetics
7 p.m.-9 p.m. - National Association of Animal Breeders (NAAB ) Symposium
Speakers:

• Bill Beal, Virginia Tech
• Herb Holzapfel, cattle producer, California

FRIDAY, MAY 1
6 a.m.-6 p.m. - Registration, Sheraton Grand Hotel
6 a.m.-8 a.m. - Continental breakfast
8 a.m.-5 p.m. - Historic Sacramento excursion tour (Spouse Tour)
8 a.m.-noon - General Session: Is there Gold in those Genomes?
Prospects for Genome Wide Selection in Beef Cattle
Speakers/Panelists:

• Mike Goddard, University of Melbourne and Victorian DPI
  
• Jerry Taylor, University of Missouri
  
• Dorian Garrick, Iowa State University
  
• Ben Brophy, Value-Added Alliances, Cargill Meat Solutions
• Kent Anderson, U.S. Beef Breeds Council
  

Noon-2 p.m. - Buffet luncheon and awards presentation
2 p.m.-5:30 p.m. - Technical keynote sessions, Sacramento Convention Center
6:30 p.m.-10 p.m. - Winetasting and dinner at the California State Railroad Museum, sponsored by Igenity® and catered by the 2006 National Beef Backer Award winner Buckhorn Steak and Roadhouse, with award-winning California wines donated by the California State Fair

SATURDAY, MAY 2
6 a.m.-noon - Registration open, Sheraton Grand Hotel
6 a.m.-8 a.m. - Continental breakfast
8 a.m.-noon - General Session: Panning for Efficiency, moderated by Tom Field, NCBA
Beef Production in the New Era of Higher Prices and Costs: Do the Old Rules Apply?
Speakers/Panelists:

• John Lawrence, Iowa State University
  
• Gordon Carstens, Texas A&M University
  
• Dave Daley, California State University
• Mike Smith, Harris Ranch Beef Co.
• Chip Ramsey, Rex Ranch, Nebraska
  

Noon-2 p.m. - Buffet luncheon and awards presentation
2 p.m.-5:30 p.m. - Technical keynote sessions, Sacramento Convention Center

SUNDAY, MAY 3
7 a.m.-5 p.m. - “Ocean, wines, views and bovines” tour (West Tour)

USDA Awards More Than $11 Million to Improve Animals
Through Research, Education and Extension in Animal Genomics

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today awarded more than $11 million in grants to 15 states to support research, education and outreach in animal genomics that will enhance the protection and safety of agriculture and the food supply.

“President Obama understands that to remain globally competitive in the livestock business and to continue to produce safe, nutritious products from livestock requires the application of cutting-edge genetics and breeding programs,” Vilsack said. “Investing in good basic and applied research will help pinpoint genetic differences that result in superior animal products of the best quality for the consumer.”

Successful application of this research will reduce the number and severity of animal disease outbreaks and decrease dependence on the widespread use of antibiotics.

The Fiscal Year 2008 projects were awarded through U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) National Research Initiative (NRI) Animal Genome Program, which seeks to develop sound, practical, science-based knowledge that can be shared with other researchers, farmers and consumers of U.S. animal products. These awards also support the training of the next generation of scientists by providing support for 25 post-doctoral fellows and 15 graduate students.

The 2008 Farm Bill did not renew the NRI, but did authorize creation of the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI). More information about AFRI can be found online at www.csrees.usda.gov/funding/afri/pdfs/program_announcement.pdf.

— Release adapted from a USDA release