Demand for Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Certification at an All-Time High

From Beef Issues Quarterly - Libby Bigler, Colorado BQA & Jason Ahola, CSU Department of Animal Sciences
 

In order to keep U.S. beef demand strong, beef producers are accountable for assuring that beef sent to the packer has the eating characteristics and product integrity that consumers want. But unlike the poultry or pork industries, the beef industry’s challenge is its segmentation. With this understanding, the BQA program has worked for more than 30 years to provide beef producers, whether they’re cow-calf operators, stockers, or feedyards, with tools and knowledge to effectively assure consumers that the beef they serve to their families was raised with integrity and under stringent quality standards. 

The BQA program has successfully reached thousands of cattle producers throughout the country, who are committed to not only food safety and quality, but also to upholding the image of the beef industry. The nationally-coordinated, state-implemented program has become a resource to producers on sound production practices, and has developed into one of the industry’s best consumer transparency tools. 

 

As millennial consumers continue to drive the conversation about beef, their desire to connect with their food creates a prime opportunity for BQA to further engage and build trust with consumers by demonstrating and verifying that BQA is being implemented on-farm. Read more...

CSU Welcomes Dr. Ryan Rhoades as State Beef Extension Specialist

In July, Colorado State University’s Department of Animal Sciences welcomed Dr. Ryan Rhoades as the state’s new Extension Beef Specialist. Dr. Rhoades comes to CSU from Texas A&M University-Kingsville where he was an associate professor of animal science. He brings with him an extensive record of teaching, research and engagement, and his research program has been a collaborative effort with the King Ranch Institute in Kingsville. His teaching has been recognized numerous times by both the Kingsville campus and the A&M university system with three Texas A&M University System Chancellors Teaching Excellence Awards (2009, 2010, 2011) and a Texas A&M University-Kingsville Junior Faculty Research Award in 2013.

The Extension Beef Specialist is an important position for the Department of Animal Sciences and the state of Colorado. In this role, Dr. Rhoades is responsible for developing, prioritizing, and implementing a statewide beef extension program based on stakeholder needs. Programming will be done in conjunction with county and regional CSU Extension Educators and industry partners including the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association, Colorado Livestock Association, and Colorado Beef Council. Having had a vacancy in this position for the past several years, CSU looks forward to the experience and knowledge that Dr. Rhoades brings to campus and to stakeholders across Colorado.

Dart Failures: Have they Happened to You?

From Drovers Cattle Network - John Maday

The use of pneumatic darts for remote drug delivery (RDD) has become increasingly popular as a tool for treating sick cattle in the field, particularly in remote or inaccessible pastures where it is difficult or risky to capture, restrain or transport animals for conventional treatment. The practice has raised concerns, however, particularly in terms of beef quality assurance, due to potential for improper injection sites, inappropriate doses of antibiotics, injury to animals, broken needles remaining in cattle and a long list of other possible consequences. Read more ...

Colorado BQA Train-the-trainer Workshop grows Trainer Network

In order to be effective in spreading the BQA message and offering BQA certification opportunities to beef producers throughout Colorado’s diverse landscape, the Colorado BQA program has adopted a unique platform which educates and certifies area CSU Extension Livestock Specialists and bovine veterinarians in BQA practices, and ultimately endorses them as BQA Trainers. Over the past 18 months, the BQA Train-the-Trainer program has grown both in number of certified trainers and in implementation. 

The most recent Train-the-Trainer workshop was held on September 19. Lincoln County Extension in Hugo, Colorado hosted the event, which ultimately grew Colorado’s BQA Trainer program by nine additional trainers, increasing the number of certified BQA trainers throughout the state to a total of 25. The day-long train-the-trainer workshop educated CSU Extension specialists and veterinary professionals on beef consumer insights, increased pressures on the beef industry supply chain, as well as the National Beef Quality Assurance guidelines. It also included a live, hands-on cattle demonstration that trainers will have an opportunity to reproduce when cattle are available at producer BQA Certification workshops.

One of the greatest values that a large trainer network offers to Colorado’s beef industry is boosting the amount of BQA certification opportunities available to Colorado’s beef producers. Colorado BQA is thrilled to welcome these new members to the BQA Trainer network.

Bruce Fickenscher, Southeast Area Extension
Mick Livingston, Kit Carson County Extension
Dean Oatman, Las Animas County Extension
Ryan Rhoades, CSU Dept. of Animal Sciences
Christine Schinzel, Lincoln County Extension
Devin Schinzel, Eastern Colorado Vet Services
Scott Stinnett, Kit Carson County Extension
Brian Talamantes, Sedgwick County Extension
Travis Taylor, Lincoln County Extension

Additional BQA Trainers

If you are interested in scheduling a BQA Certification event in your area, contact Libby Bigler, libby.bigler@colostate.edu, 970-491-2333, or contact a BQA Trainer in your area.

New Colorado BQA Certified Producers