The Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program has been around since 1987 when it was developed for and by producers to set a standard for cattle care techniques. It’s a nationally managed, state-implemented program. Dr. Julia Herman, beef cattle specialist veterinarian with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, shared, “Initially, the Beef Checkoff-funded BQA program focused on teaching proper injection sites, which improved how we treat cattle and also improved meat quality.
“Over the past 30 years, the BQA program has evolved into a total quality management system that evaluates all aspects of the cattle operation, from nutrition and genetics to stockmanship and herd health, and provides principles based on the latest scientific research,” said Herman.
“The BQA program demonstrates the commitment to animal care and welfare that our producers show every day, which improves confidence in the industry by consumers.”
The program has evolved into teaching science-based best management practices and is frequently touted as “the best industry resource for how to improve management techniques to increase profitability and improve the quality of our product,” according to Kim Brackett, chair of the BQA Advisory Group and Idaho cattle rancher.
There are several different programs within BQA depending on the operation. There are cow-calf, stocker/backgrounder or feedyard modules. Most recently, a new BQA Transportation (BQAT) module was rolled out to beef haulers, which is relevant to both professional transporters and ranchers hauling cattle with stock trailers.
The program is also in the process of developing a new module targeted directly at the calf raiser, Calf Care & Quality Assurance. This is a coalition between the National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management program, the Dairy Calf & Heifer Association and Veal Quality Assurance.
There are also advanced education modules in the BQA program, such as biosecurity, that take a deeper look at the BQA national manual for those producers seeking further and more in-depth education. The importance of record keeping cannot be underscored enough, according to Herman.
“BQA develops important assessment and record keeping tools that all cattle producers can benefit from. The daily biosecurity plan for disease prevention emphasizes preventative biosecurity practices that can be implemented,” she said.
“The new BQA Feedyard Assessment is a comprehensive analysis of feedyard protocols and implementation that can prepare a feedyard for potential audits. All of these tools contribute to the continuous improvement that our cattle producers strive for and can be used in collaboration with the herd veterinarian to develop annual herd health plans,” added Herman.
How can producers become certified? There are two different methods, depending on the producer’s preference. There are classroom-type settings, which are in person with hands-on components, and normally take a half day. These sessions review all the foundations of the programs. The other available option is online certification. The modules are available 24/7 and can be completed at the producer’s own pace. The new BQAT program is also available in person or online.
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Both BQA and BQAT certificates are valid for three years. The BQA team is constantly updating the information in the modules so when it’s time to renew certification, producers can be confident they’re getting the most relevant and up to date scientific data.
“Ultimately it boils down to the fact that our society is several generations distanced from rural life and at the same time our society has become skeptical about our food supply. Those two facts lead to consumers not understanding how cattle are raised and over-relying on mass media for information about the cattle industry,” said Brackett.
“Market research has shown that consumers’ biggest concern about beef and the beef industry is animal care. They want to know that caring for our animals is our first priority each and every day. Introducing consumers to the BQA program has been shown to alleviate their concerns, answer their animal care questions and, ultimately, it will encourage them to choose beef when making purchasing decisions.
“Let’s remember that we need the consumer to buy our product, therefore we need to do our part to assure them that we know how to properly care for our animals. To address consumer concerns, many supply chain partners now require BQA certification, particularly the packing sector.
“In other words, the buyers of our calves and feeder cattle are under increasing pressure to purchase BQA certified cattle. As a result, having that BQA certification improves the marketability of our cattle at a cow-calf and stocker level,” she added.
Brackett continues to encourage hesitant producers to become certified by relating to their bottom line. In a recent Colorado State University study, when BQA was mentioned in the lot description of video auctions, there was a $2.71/cwt premium in the sale price. BQA is professional development for the beef industry. It is an internationally recognized program, known for its animal welfare standards. Knowing and implementing the latest industry standards yields healthy cattle and in return they will perform, produce and provide for the ranch and ownership.
“Profitability is the key to being sustainable over time,” remarked Dr. Ron Gill, associate department head and program leader for animal science extension at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.
“Sound ranching practices to produce cattle that will provide a high-quality beef product in an economically and environmentally sustainable system is paramount to staying in this business,” he continued.
When consumers think about sustainability in the cattle industry, their first thought tends to focus on animal welfare. BQA covers guidelines for cattle producers and veterinarians to ensure cattle health and welfare from several angles, including topics from nutrition and herd health to biosecurity and managing forage and water resources.
BQA is developed and updated by a national advisory team made up of ranchers, veterinarians, animal scientists, representatives from the marketing and dairy industries, nutritionists and more. “Each state has their own program that tailors the BQA effort to their production environments. Things like grazing management and nutritional management will vary a great deal across the regions. However, the end goal is to produce cattle with the potential to produce the best beef possible given those restraints,” summarized Gill.
For more information, to become certified online or find a location offering in person classes, visit www.bqa.org. — Kelsey Pagel for the Red Angus Magazine
