In today’s Cow-Calf Corner, Mark Z. Johnson, Oklahoma State University Extension Beef Cattle Breeding Specialist and Barry Whitworth, Senior Extension Specialist/Oklahoma BQA Coordinator talk about Beef Quality Assurance.
Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) is a nationally coordinated, state implemented program that provides systematic information to U.S. beef producers and beef consumers of how common-sense animal husbandry techniques can be coupled with scientific knowledge to raise cattle under optimum management and environmental conditions. BQA guidelines are designed to make certain all beef consumers have confidence in the entire beef industry. The BQA program is a producer-driven certification program designed to assure consumers that cattle from all industry segments (cow-calf, stocker, feedlot) are healthy, wholesome and have been produced under the best management practices in the cattle industry. When beef producers become BQA certified it sends a message to consumers that they are willing to take the management steps necessary to produce a quality product.
The BQA program is voluntary. There is no requirement for cow-calf or stocker operations to be certified unless they sell calves into a premium or branded program that includes BQA certification as a requirement. As discussed last week in Cow-Calf Corner, the Oklahoma Quality Beef Network (OQBN) does require producers to be BQA certified. Accordingly, while certification is not required for cow-calf or stocker operations, it can open the door to increased profit potential. Most packers require fed cattle they purchase be sourced from BQA certified operations, not surprisingly, nearly all feedlots are BQA certified.
The BQA program focuses on the following management areas:
- Care and management practices
- Feedstuffs
- Feed additives and medications
- Processing, treatment and record-keeping
- Injectable animal health products
Producers interested in becoming BQA certified have two options. The certifications process can be completed on-line at http://www.bqa.org/ where the process will include several modules followed by short quizzes. In-person certification is also available. The in-person training consists of a presentation followed by a short quiz. If you are interested in the in-person certification, contact your local OSU Extension office to find out when in-person certification is available in your area or visit the link below. Certification is valid for three years. At the end of three years, producers can re-certify by going through the same process as the initial certification. Dr Barry Whitworth is the Oklahoma BQA Coordinator. Dr Whitworth can be reached at (580) 332-7011 or by email at barry.whitworth@okstate.edu.
Reference: https://extension.okstate.edu/programs/beef-extension/oklahoma-beef-quality-assurance/
Below, Mark Johnson talks with Dr. Rosslyn Biggs about how the Beef Quality Assurance program can help livestock producers on SunUpTV from May 8, 2021.
