BIXS for Cow-Calf Operations

BIXS is designed to be a very powerful information tool for cow-calf producers across Canada. Producers can use BIXS to capture and exchange information on a wide range of production, performance, health management, genetics and carcass data, all based on individual animal ID. BIXS provides the opportunity for cow-calf producers to showcase their operations and cattle to other BIXS beef chain participants at the feedlot, buyer and packer sectors. In time this will become a powerful facet for marketing beef to retail, restaurants and further processors on an individual animal and carcass basis.

Cow-calf producers enter their information based on the individual animal’s CCIA tag number. They decide what information can be shared by BIXS with subsequent feedlots and packers entering information on that individual animal’s CCIA tag number. Feedlots and packers will also register the specific CCIA tag number and connect it to their premise ID and enter their own information on that specific animal within the BIXS database. Cow-calf producers will then be able to see information entered on their animals by those subsequent BIXS participants.

As BIXS development continues, and in line with the beef production calendar, cow-calf producers will be able to view useful information on feedlot performance and health data on their animals as well as grading information. As technology advances, much more specific carcass and meat quality information on each animal will become available. This information can be used to make improvements back at the ranch or farm contributing to efficiencies and profitability. The reporting and analysis BIXS provides can help identify where change is needed or where adjustments and opportunities exist. And BIXS will be partnering with data analysis specialists and companies who offer extensive services for producers to help make decisions to improve profitability.

This is a significant opportunity for the Canadian beef cattle industry to enhance its competitive advantage in the global beef business. BIXS is created to add more value to the National ID and traceability systems and provide direct benefits to individual cattle producers. It will take some time to demonstrate this value to all sectors of the industry, but it is understood and appreciated that it starts, as it usually does, with the strong support of cow-calf producers across Canada.

Indeed, cow-calf producers with information on how their cattle performed in feedlots and how their cattle graded at the packing plant will be in the best position to impact the future quality and value of Canadian beef.