The Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) presented Warren Snelling, Lawrence, Nebraska, the BIF Pioneer Award July 5 during the group’s annual research symposium in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
The Pioneer Award recognizes individuals who have made lasting contributions to the improvement of beef cattle, honoring those who have had a major role in acceptance of performance reporting and documentation as the primary means to make genetic change in beef cattle.
Snelling is a pioneer in developing methods for identification of functional polymorphisms, a key technology for increasing the accuracy of future genetic predictions and expanding our understanding of the genomic mechanisms in cattle. As a research geneticist in the genetics, breeding and animal health research unit of the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center at Clay Center, Nebraska, he has authored and coauthored more than 80 peer-reviewed and other research papers, including work that is part of the key concepts used in understanding of livestock genomics and genetic prediction. Snelling’s career has always been focused on what is useful and directly applicable to producers.
More than 300 beef producers, academia and industry representatives attended the organization’s 55th Annual Research Symposium and Convention in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. BIF’s mission is to help improve the industry by promoting greater acceptance of beef cattle performance evaluation.
For more information about this year’s symposium, including additional award winners and coverage of meeting and tours, visit BIFSymposium.com.