Beef Quality Assurance Doesn ’ t End at the Farm Gate
The Federation is at Your Service
love is good for them too . The positive recommendations made by health professionals regarding beef ' s role in a healthy diet have a significant impact on shaping public perception and influencing nutrition guidance .
From influencers sharing personal experiences with followers and reaching consumers where they find information on a daily basis , to connecting with health professionals from coast to coast , the Beef Checkoff finds innovative ways to make beef the star of the show .
Beef Quality Assurance Doesn ’ t End at the Farm Gate
Cow-calf producers , stockers and feedyards implement Beef Quality Assurance ( BQA ) practices on their operations to produce the highest quality cattle and provide consumers with the best possible eating experience . However , BQA doesn ’ t end at the farm gate , and those transporting cattle can also become BQA Transportation ( BQAT ) certified .
“ Hauling can be one of the most stressful times in the life of cattle ,” said Colby Carpenter with W & J Carpenter Trucking Inc ., a 2022 BQA award winner . “ BQAT provides anyone transporting cattle with the information and resources they need to make sure animals are handled properly , resulting in less stress and a higher quality product for consumers .”
BQAT is a comprehensive management program incorporating responsible practices in all phases of transporting cattle . In-person training and free online courses are designed for both ranchers hauling cattle in gooseneck trailers and professional drivers who are transporting animals in semi-trailers . These courses teach proper methods for hauling cattle including biosecurity , fitness for transport , pre-trip planning and loading , and emergency management .
BQAT is science-based and producer-driven , and online modules have been updated . A working group of industry leaders from all sectors of the cattle industry came together to revise BQAT material and provide updates needed to fit industry needs for hauling cattle .
“ As the industry changes and evolves , educational materials are revised ,” said Trey Patterson , Wyoming rancher and chair of the Beef Quality Assurance Advisory Group . “ We work with producers and those hauling cattle to create a program that meets the needs of the animals and the industry .”
The Beef Quality Assurance ( BQA ) program , funded by the Beef Checkoff , provides information to U . S . beef producers and beef consumers about how common-sense husbandry techniques can be coupled with accepted scientific knowledge to raise cattle under optimum management and environmental conditions . BQA guidelines are designed to make certain all beef consumers can take pride in what they purchase — and can trust and have confidence in the entire beef industry .
BQA and BQAT certifications are available through in-person trainings and online courses . To learn more about BQA and to become certified , visit www . bqa . org .
The Federation is at Your Service
In addition to the funds invested which supplement the integrated state / national plan , state beef council investments also provide services for states and support the governance of the Federation . A variety of services are available at no cost to state beef councils , including creative and design services , communications assistance , IT and website help , human resources facilitation , staff and leadership development , and training and education . Here are a few examples of how state beef councils have utilized some of these services during the last year .
Farm to School Resource
School Foodservice BEEF RESOURCE GUIDE
The Wisconsin Beef Council ( WBC ) worked with the Creative Services team to design a resource guide that helps school foodservice staff utilize beef more often and in different ways on their lunch trays . The resource guide encompasses beef ’ s nutritional benefits for adolescents , utilizing various cuts of beef in recipes , ways to source local beef , safety tips and tricks when working with raw product , and a variety of recipes that are pre-credited for the directors ’ ease of use . This resource guide is available to all state beef councils on the new K-12 Nutrition page of www . BeefItsWhatsForDinner . com .
Vehicle Wrap
No job is too big for the Federation Services team . When the Tennessee Beef Industry Council needed help with graphics to wrap a golf cart for promotional activities , they turned to Creative Services for help . Now beef is on a roll at events across the state .
Streaming Culinary Demos
The Federation ’ s in-house video team assisted several state beef councils , including those in Arizona , Michigan , New York and Pennsylvania with streaming culinary demos . These live cooking demos elevated beef in consumer homes by sharing information about beef ’ s taste , nutrition and versatility in a hands-on and engaging way .
Nutrition Seminar Program
Nearly 30 states utilize this popular program every year . The Nutrition Seminar Program , funded by the Federation , works in collaboration with SBCs to provide influential , credentialed health and nutrition experts to speak on cutting-edge issues at State Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics meetings , as well as other statewide meetings and conferences whose audiences include credentialed health professionals . Topics and speakers are tailored to meet each state ' s needs .
For example , the Washington State Beef Commission ( WSBC ) invited Dr . Heather Leidy , to present to the Washington State Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics on the topic of Promoting Health & Well-being from Birth to Adolescence through Key Dietary Strategies : The Importance of Dietary Protein & Breakfast Consumption . To further enhance the experience , Jackie Madill with WSBC provided a cooking demonstration following the presentation .
1 . State of the Consumer Survey , August 2022 2 . Consumer Beef Tracker January – June 2023
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