Fresh off the 2026 Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Research Symposium & Convention, Guy Colyer of Colyer Herefords and Angus reflected on the event’s takeaways.
The main goal of the event is to share the latest on different research projects in the beef cattle industry conducted throughout the U.S. over the year.
“I think the main takeaway for the last several years is the importance of heterosis within the commercial cattle industry,” Guy told WLJ. “If ranchers were not using heterosis, they were losing out on some of the free things that are gained in breeding programs using heterosis.”
The 2026 BIF Research Symposium & Convention was held June 1-4 in Boise, ID. Not only was Guy a key member of the steering committee, but he was also recognized at the conference as the BIF Seedstock Producer of the Year.
A rich family history in Idaho
The Colyers’ family ranch’s origins in Bruneau, ID, can be traced back to 150 years ago, when Guy’s great-great-great grandfather moved westward from Cambridge, OH, and homesteaded in the valley alongside his two sons on neighboring homesteads.
Guy’s parents, Ray and Bonnie, ran commercial Hereford cattle on Bureau of Land Management ground in the Owyhee Mountains. In 1976, when Guy and his wife, Sherry, married they began a registered operation. The commercial division was sold in 1992 and added purebred Angus cattle into the mix.
“Our main objective started out as raising registered Angus and Hereford bulls for our area commercial cattlemen, and that still remains our main goal today,” Guy said. “I know many people maybe relate to some of the show winnings that we’ve had in the past, but it’s still the commercial ranchers that keep us in business from year to year,” he said.
The ranch hosts an annual bull sale each spring, a female sale each fall and a frozen genetics sale in the spring. The Colyers were an early adopter of the internet sale format, conducting their first internet sale more than 20 years ago.
Guy, along with his daughter, Katie, and his grandson, Cruz, were presented the BIF Seedstock Producer of the Year award at the annual BIF Awards Luncheon for the family’s commitment to improving the beef industry at the seedstock level.
“It was very humbling to be able to win that award,” Guy said. “One thing that I am proud of is we have always tried to be on the forefront of genetic improvement.”
The Colyers have been pioneers in adopting new tools and technologies to support that effort for decades, dating back to the purchase of their first computer in 1984, which “took up the whole kitchen table,” Guy recalled with a laugh.
“I’ve got to give credit to my son, Kyle, and Katie and Sherry, as they’ve been the innovators in the industry adopting new technology,” Guy said.
Beyond being among the first to own a personal computer, additional advancements have become deeply integrated into how the family manages the herd and makes breeding decisions.
The ranch began using embryo transfer (ET) in 1982 and was also an early adopter of ultrasound data collection for carcass merit in 1984. They have conducted their own ultrasound pregnancy checking since 2000, and nearly all of the ranch’s calf crop is now the result of using ET and artificial insemination.
Their embrace of new technology now includes the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI). In the past year, the family has upgraded its ultrasound technology to incorporate AI-assisted evaluation of grading and breeding potential.
“What’s really useful is when you’re analyzing multiple traits,” Guy said of using AI on the ranch. “When you’re looking at a pasture full of cattle or bulls and selecting for multiple traits, you can put them all up on a screen and have AI sort them into different categories.
“That can be done in a matter of seconds instead of the hours that it would take to break out each individual and sort them,” he added. “I can see that as a huge time saver for anybody.”
The ranch uses the GEM cow herd management program, which allows them to track performance records, vaccinations, simulate matings, EPDs and customer records. The CowManager ear tag program is also used to improve the percentage of pregnancy rates by tracking a cow’s health activity and detecting when they are cycling to be bred by artificial insemination.
The family’s efforts in prioritizing data accuracy have led them to achieving the esteemed Platinum Breeder status for the American Hereford Association’s Whole Herd Total Performance Records program, an honor that only 30 additional Hereford breeders achieved this spring.
Reflecting on the BIF event
This year’s Symposium and Convention was one of the best-attended in recent years, Guy said, drawing more than 400 attendees. Attendance on the local ranch tours was also strong, which included the Colyer family ranch.
“The conference brings people in from around the world,” Guy said. “All of the major cattle-producing states were well represented,” along with several different countries.
Guy attributes the turnout in part to the event’s return to the West after many years, along with the leadership and hard work of Drs. John Hall and Benton Glaze from the University of Idaho, who played a key role in organizing the event.
“I think the committee did an excellent job, both in putting the program together and also the functionality of the program,” Guy said. “The event was very smooth and had a lot of excellent comments from around the country.”
Guy encourages more producers—both purebred and commercial—to attend upcoming BIF events to learn more about leading-edge technology that anybody can adapt to.
“I think the BIF conference is something that is oftentimes overlooked from the commercial cattle industry,” Guy said, “but I think it’s something that could be really utilized and attended by more grassroots people. There’s parts of it that give you some insight on what direction the industry is going.”
Next year’s BIF Symposium and Convention is set to be held in Columbia, MO. For more information on the event, visit beefimprovement.org. — Anna Miller Fortozo, WLJ managing editor
