Texas A & M Animal Science Faculty Earn National Recognition

Jun 16, 2025

By Kaydee Free

The Beef Improvement Federation, BIF, honored four Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Animal Science faculty members at its annual symposium on June 12 in Amarillo.

The Beef Improvement Federation is a national organization dedicated to connecting science and industry to improve beef cattle genetics. Each year, it presents several awards, including the BIF Pioneer Award and the Continuing Service Award.

The BIF Pioneer Award recognizes individuals who have made lasting contributions to the improvement of beef cattle. The award, established in 1973, has been presented to numerous leaders in the beef industry.

The BIF Continuing Service Award is presented to individuals who have made major contributions to the organization. This includes serving on the board of directors, speaking at conventions, or working behind the scenes to advance the federation’s mission.

BIF Pioneer Award Recipients

Steve Hammack ’64, Ph.D.; Joe Paschal ’77 ’86, Ph.D.; and Jim Sanders ’74 ’77, Ph.D., were named as 2025 recipients of the BIF Pioneer Award.

Steve Hammack

Hammack, professor and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service beef cattle specialist emeritus, served as the AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist based in Stephenville from 1973 to 2003. He continued part-time in that role until 2023.

Hammack’s primary interests focus on genetic management and cow-calf production systems. He coordinated statewide efforts in beef cattle genetic management and developed the Texas Adapted Genetic Strategies, TAGS, series.

The series comprises 11 bulletins covering topics such as breeding programs, cow size and milk production, breed characteristics and uses, genotype-by-environment interaction, sire selection, expected progeny differences, selection for carcass merit and genomics.

TAGS is based on the need for commercial cow-calf producers to consider, sequentially: assessment of production conditions; choice of breeding systems; deciding if heifers are saved for replacements; calf marketing time and method; appropriate functional types and breeds; and selection of breeding individuals.

Source : tamu.edu

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