BIF Wraps Up in Biloxi
Angus Media provides news from the BIF Annual Convention in Biloxi, Miss.; Angus producers take top producer-of-the-year honors.
Mississippi State University and the Mississippi Extension Service hosted the 47th Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Annual Convention June 9-12 at the Beau Rivage Casino and Hotel in Biloxi, Miss. The event draws a wide audience each year, ranging from breed association professionals and cattle producers to researchers and industry representatives.
Industry-leading education and discussions on the latest scientific advancements in the beef industry were at the forefront of the three-day event.
Angus Media provides complete online coverage of BIF meetings and events at its event coverage website www.bifconference.com. There you’ll find summary articles from each session, audio recordings, proceedings papers, and PowerPoint presentations given by speakers, as well as video interviews conducted at the convention and announcements of award winners. Topics covered at this year’s convention include rebuilding the nation’s cow herd, sustainability in the beef business and the latest genomic tools to aid cattle producers in selection decisions.
Honoring excellence
Throughout the conference, BIF honors cattle producers who exemplify its mission to improve the efficiency, profitability and sustainability of beef production. This year, Angus producers topped the coveted Seedstock and Commercial producer of the year categories.
Woodbury Farms, Quenemo, Kan., was honored with the 2015 BIF Commercial Producer of the Year award. Located in Osage County, Kan., on the eastern edge of the Flint Hills, the operation was started in 1881 when Fred H. Woodbury purchased his first 80 acres near Olivet, Kan. The fourth generation of Woodburys now operates land in four counties, managing 5,000 acres of native and tame grasses and 400 acres of cropland.
The cow herd consists of 400 spring-calving cows of which 175 are registered-Angus and 225 are commercial-Angus and black baldies, along with a few red baldies that stem from a Hereford cow base.
All calves are backgrounded after weaning, with a majority of the steers being sold through the local sale barn. About one-third of the heifer calves are retained for replacements, and most of the remaining calves are sold in a production sale in March, along with about 40 yearling bulls from the registered herd.
A small number of steers and heifers are entered in the annual Flint Hills Beef Fest hosted in Emporia, Kan. Cattle are summer-grazed on the Flint Hills, then finished at a commercial feedyard where carcass data is gathered. For more information on the Woodburys, see page 120 of the August Angus Journal.
McCurry Angus Ranch, Burrton, Kan., was recognized as the 2015 Seedstock Producer of the Year. McCurry Angus Ranch is a family-owned and -managed operation that utilizes 2,000 acres for home-based operations, with satellite operations in Chase and Greenwood counties. Buffalo, S.D., is the embryo transfer (ET) base for 150 commercial Angus-based cows.
McCurry Angus consists of 400 registered-Angus cows split between spring- and fall-calving herds, and 250 spring-calving commercial-Angus cows.
About 175 bulls are sold yearly in a spring production sale and private treaty. Target customers are commercial cattle producers. Females are marketed primarily private treaty. Spring-born commercial steer calves are marketed through Superior Livestock’s online auction.
The ranch got its start in 1977, with the marriage of two third-generation Angus breeders. Andy and Mary McCurry began their start-up operation with seven registered-Angus heifers representing pedigree lineage of seven distinct cow families, no land, no facilities and no equipment. Today, 95% of the current herd traces back to those foundation females. For more on McCurry Angus Ranch, see page 116 of the August Angus Journal.
For additional award winners, including those presented the BIF Pioneer Award, Continuing Service Award and Ambassador Award, as well as students recognized with the Roy A. Wallace and Frank Baker memorial scholarships, see the Awards page at www.BIFconference.com.
