Beef Quality Assurance ---
http://www.bqa.org/Default.aspx
Beef Quality Assurance is a national program that provides guidelines for beef cattle production. The program raises consumer confidence through offering proper management techniques and a commitment to quality within every segment of the beef industry.
Producers have embraced BQA because it is the right thing to do; but they have also gained through increased profitability. As an educating program, BQA helps producers identify management processes that can be improved.
"BQA is not just about the mechanical part of beef production, like giving vaccines; it is also about the philosophical part, including proper handling and treatment of the animals," says Bill Mies, who served as the technical advisor for the BQA program at its inception. Mies was involved in research concerning beef quality while a professor in beef cattle science at Texas A&M University.
The guiding principles of BQA are based on these core beliefs:
WE BELIEVE production practices affect consumer acceptance of beef.
WE BELIEVE the BQA Program has and must continue to empower beef producers to improve the safety and wholesomeness of beef.
WE BELIEVE these fundamental principles are the fabric of the BQA Program.
Empowering people…because producers can make a difference.
Taking responsibility…because it's our job, not someone else's.
Working together…because product safety and wholesomeness is everyone's business.
The BQA program's early emphasis was on assuring the real and perceived safety of beef. Gary Smith, Colorado State University Monfort Chair and professor of meat sciences, says BQA programming has been instrumental in building beef demand in the U.S. and elsewhere.
"Measures [in the early 1980s] were successfully designed to discourage inappropriate use . . . of antibiotics," he explains. "This included educating stakeholders about proper use of pharmaceutical products and the honoring of withdrawal times."
But ensuring safe beef products by implementing proper use of pharmaceuticals is only one aspect of the BQA program today. BQA programs have evolved to include best practices around good record keeping and protecting herd health, which can result in more profits for producers.
"If you look at the measurable losses in [market] cows and bulls from the audits, including losses from bruising and injection sites, we were losing about $70 per animal. With 4.5 to 5 million head marketed each year, that's a considerable chunk of money," notes Dr. Dee Griffin, DVM, and associate professor at the University of Nebraska's Great Plains Veterinary Education Center.
Griffin says that one way BQA can add value at market is by implementing it with older animals as well as with younger fed cattle. "Many restaurants only buy cuts of meat from 'A' maturity cattle. Each year the U.S. has to import tons of meat to fulfill this age requirement. It's not because the age of the animals produces that much of a lower quality product; it's because the industry does such a good job at managing the younger fed cattle. There is a tremendous opportunity if we can improve adherence with BQA standards in the older animals. This goes for application across the industry, including both beef and dairy producers," says Dr. Griffin.
Source referenced: Peck, Clint. "Going Forward with BQA." Beef Magazine. September 1, 2006.
BQA Code of Cattle Care
Beef cattle producers take pride in their responsibility to provide proper care to cattle. The Code of Cattle Care lists general recommendations for care and handling of cattle.
Provide necessary food, water and care to protect the health and well-being of animals.
Provide disease prevention practices to protect herd health, including access to veterinary care.
Provide facilities that allow safe, humane, and efficient movement and/or restraint of cattle.
Use appropriate methods to humanly euthanize terminally sick or injured livestock and dispose of them properly.
Provide personnel with training/experience to properly handle and care for cattle.
Make timely observations of cattle to ensure basic needs are being met.
Minimize stress when transporting cattle.
Keep updated on advancements and changes in the industry to make decisions based upon sound production practices and consideration for animal well-being.
Persons who willfully mistreat animals will not be tolerated.
The bottom line is -- as a food producer, your livelihood depends on securing the consumer's trust. If you are not on board --you are not helping>>>>>>>>>. SIM
