About BIF

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The Beef Improvement Federation was formed on February 1, 1968 to standardize programs and methodologies and to create greater awareness, acceptance and usage of beef cattle performance concepts.  The purposes of BIF as expressed in its by-laws are:

Uniformity – To work for establishment of accurate and uniform procedures for measuring, recording and assessing data concerning the performance of beef cattle which may be used by participant organizations.

Development – To assist member organizations and/or their affiliates in developing their individual beef improvement and quality management programs consistent with the needs of their members and the common goals of such generally accepted record keeping programs.

Cooperation – To develop cooperation among all segments of the beef industry in the compilation and utilization of performance records to improve efficiency, profitability and sustainability of beef production.

Education – To encourage the Federation’s member organizations to develop educational programs emphasizing the use and interpretation of performance data and quality management programs in improving the efficiency, profitability and sustainability of beef production.

Confidence – To develop the increased confidence of the beef industry in the economic potential available from performance measurement and assessment.

BIF is a federation comprised of member organizations that include:

Provincial, state and national beef cattle improvement associations and other organizations that sponsor beef cattle improvement.

Breed associations in the United States and Canada that are involved in performance programs.

Other organizations involved in beef improvement such as the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Association of Animal Breeders, and artificial insemination organizations.

Associate memberships are available to individuals or agencies interested in beef cattle performance.

The first edition of Guidelines was published in 1970, and it was revised in 1972, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1990, 1996, 2002, and 2010.  Committees established by the BIF Board of Directors develop recommendations based on scientific research results and industry experience.  Through the years Guidelines has evolved as new information has become available.  Contributing authors have updated, revised or added sections in this edition based on BIF committee recommendations.

The Guidelines are published primarily to assist member organizations in the development and operation of performance programs for their members.  The objectives of this publication are to outline standard procedures for measuring, recording and using beef cattle performance data and to facilitate greater uniformity in terminology and methodology in the beef industry.  BIF shows no preference for, or discrimination against, any breed of cattle or industry organization.

The Guidelines contain recommended procedures.  BIF does not mandate or dictate that any organization follow all or any of these recommendations.  There are situations where individual organizations can develop procedures that are more suitable for their members.  For example, this publication contains BIF’s weaning weight adjustment factors. Most associations, while adopting the BIF standard adjustment ages of 205 and 365, have used their extensive databases to develop adjustment procedures that are more appropriate for the specific breed.  It is not the purpose of BIF to recommend one standard program for all segments of the industry or to discourage the development of better procedures when specific data are available.

The Guidelines contain standard procedures based on research and industry experience.  This publication is a valuable tool for use in designing and conducting beef cattle performance programs.  Procedures outlined in this publication are used widely in the beef industry. Member organizations are encouraged to use these standard procedures in all cases where they are appropriate.  Use of these standards by an organization makes communication with members of other organizations and other industry segments easier and more accurate. Improving the accuracy of measuring, recording, evaluating and communicating should be the goal of any performance program.