Beef Working Group

Objectives

The Beef Working Group emerged as the natural progression of the Interbeef WG, with an updated mandate and responsibilities. It represents the next stage in the evolution of the Interbeef WG, now operating under an expanded and updated mandate for the following tasks:

  • Enable ICAR members to collaborate and share knowledge on beef recording and genetic evaluation.
  • Maintain and promote global guidelines for recording performance and other beef‑related data.
  • Conduct and publish international surveys on beef recording and genetic evaluations.
  • Develop and promote standards for routine international genetic evaluations forming the basis of Interbull’s user‑pays service to ICAR members.
  • Coordinate global research and development on the use of genomic information in beef cattle breeding.

Terms of Reference

Objectives

The objectives of the Beef WG are to:

  1.  Provide a forum for members of ICAR to collaborate, exchange information and learn from each other on all aspects of recording and genetic evaluation of breeds and traits of relevance to beef production.
  2. Maintain, update, promote and extend universal guidelines for the recording of performance and other data relevant to beef production worldwide.
  3. Conduct and report the results of periodic international surveys of beef recording and genetic evaluations.
  4. Develop, provide and promote standards for performance recording and genetic evaluation of beef breeds and traits.
  5. Facilitate and co-ordinate international collaboration in data exchange and research and development on the utilisation of genomic information related to beef cattle breeding.
  6. Provide strategic oversight for the Interbeef Evaluation Service Users Group

Working Group meetings

  • Documents produced by the Beef Working Group from November 2025 are available here
  • Minutes of the previous Interbeef Working Group (prior to November 2025) have been made available on a specific page available here

 

Strategic documentation

Governance

Services

The Beef Working Group overseas the delivery of the Interbeef international genetic evaluations for beef cattle. [@Toine Roozen – do you want to provide some additional text here?]. The detailed activity related to eth development and delivery of eth service is managed by the InterBeef Evaluation Users Group (here).

 

Publications and documentations

Composition

Chairperson

  • Kim Matthews, Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), UK

Members

  • Kristine Adama, Lauku atbalsta dienests, Latvia
  • Andrea Bassini, AIA, Associazione Italiana Allevatori, Italy
  • Martino Cassandro, Fedana/ANAFIBJ, Italy
  • Siri Furre, SYR, Norway
  • Laurent Griffon, Institut de l’Elevage, France
  • Kamil Malat, ČSCHMS, Czech Rep.
  • Steven Miller, Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit (AGBU), UNE, Australia
  • Klemen Potocnik, Biotehniška fakulteta,  Univerza v Ljubljani, Slovenia
  • Andrea, Quaglia, ANAFBIJ, Italy
  • Jo Newton, Agriculture Victoria, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, Australia
  • Elisenda Rius, Vaxa, Sweden
  • Evans Ross, ICBF (Irish Cattle Breeding Federation), Ireland
  • Pedro Santos Vaz, Aberdeen-Angus Portugal, Portugal
  • Haifa Spittorff, Nordic Cattle Genetic Evaluation
  • Svenja Strasser, Mutterkuh Schweiz, Switzerland
  • Mart Uba, Agricultural Register’s and Information Centre, Estonia
  • Japie van der Westhuizen, South African Stud Book and Animal Improvement Association, South Africa

 

Scientific Advisory Committee

  • Steve Miller, Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit (AGBU), Australia
  • Svenja Strasser, Mutterkuh Schweiz, Switzerland
  • Dorian Garrick – Massey University, New Zealand – Scientific Advisory Committee

ICAR Groups