Beef Quality Assurance: A Commitment to Cattle, Consumers, and the Future

Barry Whitworth, DVM, MPH
Senior Extension Specialist/State BQA Coordinator

Department of Animal & Food Sciences | Ferguson College of Agriculture | Oklahoma State University

According to one survey, Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) is the most successful rancher educational program in the United States. In Oklahoma, BQA is a joint effort of the Oklahoma Beef Council, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension Service, and the OSU Department of Animal and Food Sciences. This Beef Checkoff-funded program helps cattle producers raise healthy cattle while providing consumers with a healthy, safe, wholesome product.

BQA is a voluntary certification program that provides cattle producers with science-based guidelines for animal husbandry, herd health, and food safety. Launched in the 1980s, BQA helps producers adopt best management practices that reduce residues, prevent defects in carcasses, and improve the overall quality of beef. This not only benefits producers but also builds consumer confidence.

The objectives of BQA are to provide hands on training to help cattle producers meet BQA expectations as well as realize the benefits of being BQA certified. BQA emphasizes record keeping that meets or exceeds government guidelines. BQA participants are provided with technical assistance from BQA staff, veterinarians, extension specialists, and others. Lastly, BQA provides a foundation for responsible cattle management.

To improve beef quality, BQA applies principles from the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP)program. This system helps producers identify key control points in beef production where management practices can prevent problems before they occur. Preventing issues at the source not only protects consumers but also makes economic sense for producers.

The BQA program addresses a wide range of management practices such as cattle care, herd health, biosecurity, nutrition, record keeping, transportation, environmental stewardship, worker safety, and emergency action planning. Emphasizing these results in better outcomes for cattle as well as producers. To find other areas where improvement should be made, BQA relies on the National Beef Quality Audits (NBQA). These audits are conducted roughly every five years on feeder steers and heifers and cull cows and bulls. The audits can be viewed at www.bqa.org.

Beef cattle producers have different options for certification. The option of certification depends on what phase of the beef cattle production cycle producers identify with. One certification program is related to cow/calf production for those who breed and sell calves. Another program deals with stocker/backgrounder operations for those that raise and sell feeder cattle, and lastly, feeder operators can be feedyard certified. Even those individuals that haul cattle can be BQA certified in transportation.

BQA trainings can be done online at bqa.org or in-person trainings occur across the state of Oklahoma throughout the year. For in-person training, producers should contact their local Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension County office for more information.

BQA certifications are valid for three years from the date of the original certification. To renew a certification, a producer must obtain three hours of continuing educational (CE) courses before their BQA certification expires. CE courses are available at bqa.org or can be obtained through OSU Extension programs.

BQA certification demonstrates to consumers that beef cattle are raised with care, respect, and responsibility. By following BQA guidelines, producers can improve herd health, reduce losses, and increase consumer demand for beef. In short, BQA is both good business and the right thing to do.

For more information about BQA, cattle producers should visit the BQA website at www.bqa.org or contact their local Oklahoma State University Cooperative County Extension office.

References

Klopatek, S. C., Cantwell, A. M., Roche, L., Stackhouse-Lawson, K., & Oltjen, J. W. (2022). Beef Quality Assurance national rancher survey: program participation, best management practices, and motivations for joining future sustainability programs. Translational animal science, 6(3), txac094.