The CBBC-BIXS information flow system has inherent benefits to participants — and being able to access reports and search the data is essential for CBBC-BIXS to be an effective tool.

Through data sharing, searching and analysis—marketing opportunities can be explored, and decisions regarding breeding, operations and management can be made to advance beef production.

Standard reports are available through CBBC-BIXS and include: Value Chain Activity Report; Top 10/Bottom 10 Analysis Report of your herd against the general BIXS population for such variables as average daily gain in the feedlot; weaning weights; quality and yield grades.

The program will also provide a comparative analysis on variables like animal health score in the feedlot. The information provided back can enable more strategic breeding and management practices.

Searching CBBC-BIXS
All BIXS participants wishing to launch a search must adhere to the terms and conditions for searching the BIXS database.
   
Producers, buyers, exporters, feedlot operators and packers who are registered participants in CBBC-BIXS can use the system to seek out supplies of cattle and build relationship with suppliers of those cattle based on their specific specifications.

Maintaining producer participant confidentiality is paramount to CBBC and CCA. Therefore, strict agreements regarding participation and data sharing are established. Purebred producers will designate which data they will share.

A purebred producer would first approach their breed association to describe and request their search. Breed Associations have distinct relationships with CBBC-BIXS and will collaborate with the Program Administrator to generate member-producer specific searches and wider breed analysis, benchmarks and reports. For example: A purebred Hereford producer contacts the Canadian Herford Association and requests, via a CBBC-BIXS search—information on the carcass quality i.e. yield and grade, ADG and AV of all of the offspring of one of his purebred sires that he fed as part of a branded beef program. 
   
Other CBBC-BIXS participants contact the Program Administrator who will determine if, and how, a search may be accomplished—respecting confidentiality of BIXS participants.

 At the onset CBBC-BIXS will enable searches based on the following parameters (if this data shared and captured):

• Animal birthdates/date ranges
• Breed/crossbreed
• Castration date/method
• Weaning weight/weight range
• Yearling Weight
• Vaccination date(s) / product(s)
• Immunization program
• VBP registered and audited operations
• …others to come