Kentucky
Beef Quality Assurance
What is Beef Quality Assurance?
“BQA is a process of figuring out what could
go wrong, planning to avoid it – then
validating and documenting what you have
done. BQA is just part of good business,”
Dee Griffin, DVM, associate professor at the
University of Nebraska’s Great Plains
Veterinary Education Center.
What Does “Quality” Stand for In
Beef Quality Assurance?
• “Up until a few years ago, 25% or 1 out of every
4 people ordering beef at a restaurant had an
unpleasant eating experience.”
• Quality means wholesome and safe, but it also
means providing a product to the consumer that
delivers a desirable eating experience.
1
What is Certification?
• Process by which producers accept
responsibility for actions under which cattle in
our production unit were produced.
• Process allowing the beef industry to maintain
its independence from regulatory agencies.
What is BQA?
• Based on recommended national
guidelines and scientific research to meet
the demands of today’s consumer
• BQA Focuses on…
– Care and Husbandry Practices
– Feedstuffs
– Feed Additives and Medications
– Injectable Animal Health Products
– Processing, Treatment and Record-Keeping
www.BQA.org
19
History of BQA
• 1970’s -Originally called Beef Safety Assurance.
• In 1982 USDA-FSIS began working on the Preharvest Beef Safety Production Program.
• By the mid to late 80’s the beef industry adopted
the term Beef Quality Assurance began
regulating themselves to avoid additional
government regulation.
• KY-BQA program began in 2000
More Than 30 Years of Beef Quality
Assurance… Providing a Safe, Wholesome
and Healthy Beef Supply
National BQA Audit 2011
• Challenges 1995
– External Fat
– Seam Fat
– Overall Palatability
– Tenderness
– Overall Cutability
– Marbling
• Challenges 2011
– Food Safety
– Eating Satisfaction
– How/Where Cattle
Raised
– Lean, Fat, Bone
– Weight and Size
– Cattle Genetics
Producer Findings
• Healthy Cattle Equal Quality. To cattle producers, quality equals “raising
healthy cattle and calves” and “producing safe and wholesome beef.”
– 90% of producers have a working relationship with their veterinarian.
• Though 95% had some level of routine vaccination and treatment
protocols, only 31% had a written plan. Greater emphasis must be placed
on documentation.
• Injection Site Improvements. However, improvement is still needed, 41%
of dairy producers still giving injections in the animal’s rump.
• Low‐Stress Handling Is a Priority. Use of good stockmanship and
animal‐handling skills is the
• producer’s #1 method of intentionally influencing quality. Ninety‐eight
percent do not use an electric prod as their primary driving tool.
• Identification and Traceability. Seventy‐eight percent of respondents
used individual animal ID (ear tag) as a means to keep track of withdrawal
times for animal health products.
Why Should You Become Certified?
• Records allow for better business decisions
• Eliminate carcass defects
• Consumer confidence in meat and milk
quality is vital to beef and dairy producers
• We no longer just raise cattle, we are in the
business of producing safe food!
BQA Program Elements
• Classroom or ChuteSide Training
• Pass KY-BQA Post Test
• Sign Production
Contract
• $5 Fee for to maintain
database, create
materials, etc.
Other Resources
•
•
•
•
Dairy BQA
Transporter BQA
Auction Market BQA
On-farm Assessments
The BQA Mission
To maximize consumer confidence and
acceptance of beef by focusing the producers’
attention to daily production practices that
influence the safety, wholesomeness and
quality of beef and beef products
BQA Programs are driven by:
• Producers
• Government
• Consumers – they
purchase what they
trust
“Quality Assurance is
everyone’s job, our future
depends upon it ... and there
are not most valuable
players.”
It is every producer’s
obligation to utilize
management and judgment
that ultimately lead to a
positive eating experience for
the consumer.
2
BQA National Guidelines
•
•
•
•
Care and Husbandry Practices
Feedstuffs
Feed Additives and Medications
Processing, Treatment and RecordKeeping
• Injectable Animal Health Products
Employee Training and Education
• Never assume that someone can properly
handle cattle or use the proper techniques
• Ongoing producer and worker education
should be part of any management plan
• Extension personnel can provide you with
educational opportunities
Care and Husbandry Practices
• Handle/transport all
cattle in such a fashion to
minimize stress, injury
and bruising
• Regularly inspect facilities
to help ensure proper
care and ease of handling
• Keep feed & water
handling equipment clean
• Provide appropriate
nutritional and feedstuffs
management
• Maintain an environment
appropriate to the
production setting
• Evaluating and enforce
biosecurity
• Keep records for a minimum
of 2 years or longer as
requirement by
laws/regulations (ie. 3 years
for Restricted Use
Pesticides)
Cattle Behavior
• Sort cows from calves
• Cattle have wide-angle vision – use solid
sides
• Eliminate shadows to prevent cattle from
entering an area
• Cattle move toward the light as long as it
is not glaring
• Minimize loud noises
Cattle Behavior
• Use animal's natural tendencies:
– Cattle follow each other and have a natural
tendency to circle
• Use curved chutes
– Flight Zone (aka personal space) and Point of
Balance
• Use to move cattle
Source:http://www.grandin.com/behaviour/principles/flight.zone.html
Tips for More Efficient Handling
• Design and operate alleys and gates to
avoid impeding cattle movement
• Work cattle in groups
• Call cattle rather than drive them
• Use one-way gates
• Avoid slippery surfaces
• Quiet handling is essential
Stock Trailer BQA
• Loading/ Unloading
– Low stress handling
– Sorting
• Equipment selection
– Truck and Trailer
– Floor space
– Use proper facilities for
loading cattle
– Gates
Stock Trailer BQA
• Maintenance
– Keep in good condition
with all repairs made.
– Tires
– Wheels
– Wires and Lights
– Brakes
– Floor
– Clean out
Stock Trailer BQA
• Be sure tires are in good
condition
• Check age of tires
• Check heels
• Check bearings
• Be sure a jack is
available & accessible
Driving Considerations
•Defensive driving is highly
encouraged
•Plan your route
____
____
Week
Year
Remember When Transporting Cattle
• Before cattle leave the farm --Evaluate them for illness
and severe lameness
---Do not sell cattle with
– Cancer eye
– Downers
– Debilitated thin cows
– Cattle which are sick
– Cattle with antibiotic residues
* DO NOT LOAD animals that are borderline non-
ambulatory or downer animals, severely lame or sick
Remember When Transporting Cattle
• Allow for adequate room for cattle on the
truck or trailer
• Transport cattle during the cooler parts of
the day– especially during summer or during
times with elevated temperatures/humidity
• To prevent cattle from failing, avoid sudden
starts/stops and sharp turns
• Schedule loading and unloading times to
minimize the amount of time on trailer
Transporting Cattle
• Do not overcrowd cattle on trailers
– Decrease number of head during hot conditions
Cattle Weight, lbs
Trailer Size
400
800
1200
1600
Total
Weight
16 ft x 6 ft
18
9
6
4
< 7115
20 ft X 7 ft
26
13
9
6
< 10,370
24 ft X 7 ft
31
16
10
8
< 12,445
Non-Ambulatory Animals
* Disabled or downer animals are not allowed in the food
chain and SHOULD NOT be transported to the livestock
marketing or harvest facility
• Non-ambulatory cattle should be provided shade, water
and feed, and housed in an area that provides good
footing
• Determining prognosis– Work with your veterinarian
– More favorable prognosis when animal can sit upright and is
eating and drinking– If not consider euthanizing animal
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If the prognosis is unfavorable or the
animal has not responded to
veterinary care, it should be humanely
euthanized.
Feedstuffs
• Maintain records of pesticides on pasture or
crops
• Create quality control program for incoming
feedstuffs
• Analyze suspect feedstuffs prior to use
• Do not feed ruminant-derived protein sources
per FDA
• Support feeding of by-product/co-product
ingredients with sound science
14
Practice Good Feed Room Hygiene
• Don’t store agrochemicals, fertilizers and
other non-feed items in the feed room
• Keep feed dry and free from mold
• Rotate inventory to keep feed fresh
• Be very cautious with rodenticides
• Do not use pesticide containers to store feed
or feed cattle
• Don’t ever feed floor sweepings to cattle
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Feed Additives and Medications
• Keep records for at
• Use only FDAleast 2 years
approved medicated
• Assure all additives
feed additives in
are withdrawn at
ration
proper time
• Use FDA current
•
Strictly
adhere
to
Good Manufacturing
medication
Practices (cGMPs)
withdrawal times to
• Extra-label use of
avoid violative
feed additives is
residues
18
prohibited
Feed Additives and Medications
• What falls into the feed additives and
medications
– Ionophores – Rumensin and Bovatec
– Antibiotics – Aureomycin
– Usually in purchased feeds
• You must have a permit to mix the most
concentrated forms
Feed Additives and Medications
• Monitor every withdrawal time to avoid
residues
• Identify treated individuals or groups
Feed Storage and Handling
• Store and handle feeds to prevent
contamination of feeds and to insure safety of
beef and milk products produced
– Decrease moisture
– Birds and rodents
– Clean feeding area and water supply
– Feed using clean equipment--I.E. To prevent
Johne’s Disease– wash tractor tires, buckets, etc
after handling manure and before feeding cattle
Injectable Animal Health Products
• Always follow label requirements
• Products labeled for
subcutaneous (SQ) administration
should preferably be
administered in the neck region
• Products cleared for SQ,
Intravenous (IV), Intranasal (IN) or
oral administration are
recommended
• Products with low dosage rates
are recommended and proper
spacing of injections should be
followed
• All products labeled for
intramuscular use shall be given
in the neck region only (no
exceptions, regardless of age)
• All products can cause tissue
damage when injected IM.
Therefore all IM use should be
avoided if possible.
• No more than 10 cc of product is
administered per IM injection site
Judiciously Use Antibiotics
• Select and use antibiotics carefully
• Use laboratory results to select antibiotics
• Avoid antibiotics important for humans as first
line therapy
• Limit antibiotic use to sick or “high risk” animals
• Avoid combination therapy unless evidence to
support decision
• Sub-therapeutic antibiotic use is discouraged
9
Veterinarian Consultation
• At a minimum invite your Veterinarian to your farm
or livestock operation on an annual basis
• Establishes valid Veterinary-Client-Patient
Relationship (VCPR)
– Vet better understand your production management &
goals
– Better assist you in making recommendations
– Confidence that you’ll follow prescription labels
– Diagnosis of disease challenges can be quicker
Product Selection
• Use Only Animal Health Products Approved for
Cattle Production
• Not all injectables are the same, reference
should be given to products that
• Use a lower dosage
• Recommend SQ administration
• Are less reactive once applied
Injection Site Management
• Since the first National Beef Quality Audit the
incidence of injection site lesions has
decreased from 22.3% (1991) to less than 3%
(2000)
Injection site lesions
• Blemish Caused by IM Injection
too Close to Shoulder
The problem is being found in
approximately 15 to 20% of
steaks cut from the front of the
Chuck Roll (NAMP 115).
Injection Site Lesions
• Decrease tenderness up to 3 inches from
lesions
• Result of an injection such as clostridial
bacterins, antibiotics, and vitamins
administered IM
• Most lesions are scar tissue, but sometimes are
active abscesses
• Contaminated needles and syringes contribute
to the problem
Caution- Human Safety Concerns
• Wear protective clothing/gloves when handling
chemicals
• Prostaglandin products (Lutalyse, Estrumate)
should not be handled by pregnant women;
this product can be absorbed through the skin
• Micotil injections should use one handed
technique; if self-injected it will likely cause
death in humans
Before Using a Drug
• Read the label
– Label includes the sheet that is inside the box with
the product, not just what is on the bottle label or
box.
– Warning for withdrawal time noted, recorded
• Record Serial & Lot Numbers
– Needed for product failure, reporting adverse
reaction, etc…
• Record Expiration Date
Example of
Package
Insert
Information
13
Drug Classes
• Over the Counter (OTC)
• Prescription
• Feed additives
Over-the-Counter (OTC)
• Products you can purchase online, at local
farm store, etc…
• Must be used in accordance to the label
unless you have a written prescription
• Examples: LA200, Penicillin
Prescription Drugs
• MUST have a valid Veterinary-Client-Patient
Relationship (VCPR)
• Require a prescription to obtain
• Use the correct product for the disorder
• BQA encourages Judicious use of Antimicrobials
Extra Label Drug Use (ELDU)
• “Off-Label” use
• Veterinarian may decide to use either an OTC or Prescription
Drug differently than as labeled
– Examples may include different dosage, different route of
administration, different purpose
• MUST have a written prescription from the Vet and MUST
have appropriate Withdrawal Time Established by the Vet –
Often longer Withdrawal Time
• CAN NOT prescribe use of FEED ADDITIVES different from the
label – Not Even a Vet
6
animals are slaughtered for food. Exceeding
recommended dose, or number of days
treatment, or 10 ml per injection site may
result in antibiotic residues beyond the
withdrawal period.
Net Contents: 100 ml
Distributed by: Kentucky Animal Health
Withholding Times
Example of Label for Extra – Label Drug
Quantity of Contents
Use
Name of Distributor
LABEL PROVIDED BY VETERINARIAN
FOR “EXTRA-LABEL”USE
Name & Address of
Veterinarian
Veterinarian____________Phone_________
Address_________Date______Exp_______
Owner/Farm_______________ID#________
Active ingredients_____________________
Cautionary Statements
Instructions for Use
Indications___________________________
____________________________________
Directions: Give___________cc’s/bolus/oz.
________times each day for ______days.
Prescribed withholding time____________
Hours of milk withhold/Send samples Y/N;
Days slaughter withhold/ Appropriate drug
tag.
Prescribed
Withholding Times
Properly Handling Vaccines
Practice good sanitation
• Separate needles should
be used for filling the
syringes and injecting the
animals
• Do not draw from a bottle
with a needle that was in
an animal – Get a new
needle
• Do not remove the needle
from the syringe leaving
the needle in the bottle
Transfer Needle
Springer Magrath Co.
“Great tool for transferring
diluent to vaccine on modified
live vaccines. Stick transfer
needle in sterile diluent first then
stick in vaccine. Vacuum on
vaccine will transfer over the
diluent.”
•
http://www.dairypharm.com/servlet/
DisplayCatalog?key=100020
$1.08 (does not come with a
container)
•
http://westernranchsupply.com/body
.php3?cat_id=1&sub_id=104
MGRMTN $ 2.00
MLV Vaccine Care
• Reconstitute only what is used in 1 hr
• Use a transfer needle
• Do not shake, but swirl to mix
• Reconstituted vaccines should not be stored
for use on another day, not effective
Properly Handling Vaccines
• Keep them cool during transport, use cooler or insulated bag with cold
pack
• Do not put them on the dash of the truck
• Put them in the back of the refrigerator, not the door
• Have a Cooler and cold packs for use at the chute
• Avoid freezing the product as well
Does Your Refrigerator Keep Vaccines
at the Proper Temperature?
• In a recent study over
50% of on farm
refrigerators surveyed
did not maintain the
needed
temperature(35 to
45F) more than 35%
of the time
Univ. of Arkansas 2009
Selecting Appropriate Needle
• Gauge- diameter of needle
– 14 to 20 gauge depending on animal size,
route of administration, & product
– Large enough to protect against breakage
– Large enough to handle the characteristics of
the product
– No larger than necessary
5 & 10
Selecting Appropriate Needle
• Length
– ¾” to 1 ½” will suffice in most cases
– Shorter needle for subcutaneous injections
• ¾” to 1 inch
– Longer needle for intramuscular (IM)
• 1” for calves & 1 ½” for cows or bulls
– Intravenous 1 ½”
Table 2-1. Determining proper needle gauge based on the route of administration, animal size, and
viscosity1 of fluid.
SQ Injection
(¾ to 1 inch long needle)
IM Injection
(1 to 1½ inch long needle)
Animal Size (lb)
300700
<300
Fluid
Viscosity1
>700
IV Injection
(1½ inch long needle)
Animal Size (lb)
Animal Size (lb)
300700
300700
<300
Needle Gauge
>700
<300
Needle Gauge
>700
Needle Gauge
Thin
18
18-16
16
20-18
18-16
18-16
18-16
16
16-14
Thick
18-16
16
16
18
16
16
16
16-14
16-14
Select the needle to fit the cattle size (the smallest practical size without bending).
1 An example of a thin viscosity fluid: saline; thick: oxytetracycline
Avoid Breaking Needle
– Properly restrain the animal
– Avoid plastic hubs, select aluminum to
minimize risk of breaking
– IF you break off a needle in an animal,
MUST retrieve it OR eliminate the animal
from entering food / rendering channels
15
Change Needles—IF….
• Bends
• Contacts manure, dirt or irritating chemicals
• Needle point becomes burred (dropped
syringe, hit chute, etc…)
• Becomes dull or contaminated (every 1 to 15
head)
• Between cattle with known blood-borne
infectious disease (anaplasmosis, leukosis)
Proper Use of Syringes
• Disposable syringes are recommended over
multi-dose syringes
• Remove air from syringe after drawing
• Sterilize syringes and needles properly
 Boil
 Do Not Use Disinfectants in or on
syringes/needles for vaccine or medicine
injections
11
Automatic Syringes
• Genesis Instruments Mini-Cartridge®
Automatic Syringe System
– Recommend 35 ml/cc syringes (red)
– Disposable barrel eliminates cleaning
Vet Concepts
Producers- Edwards Agri-Sales 800-235-2038
http://www.genesisinstruments.com/
General Syringe & Needle Care
• Separate syringes for antibiotics & vaccines
• Label syringes – Keep from drawing vaccine into
antibiotic syringe
• Properly dispose of used needles
– Sharps Container
– Hard plastic container (ie. Used laundry detergent
container)
– Do not throw them directly into trash
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Manage Needles And Syringes
• Separate needles should be used for filling
syringes and injecting animals.
• Change needles after about 10 injections
(depending on biosecurity plan).
• Replace bent or burred needles.
• Disposable syringes are recommended instead of
multiple-dose syringes.
Do Not Combine Animal Health
Products
• Use combination products when possible to
minimize number of injections.
• Mixing two different vaccines WILL NOT produce
one that will protect against both diseases.
• Mixing unlike products can destroy the
effectiveness of both products.
If you administer 2 products
give them at least 4 inches
apart.
Site Selection
• CLEAN injection site, Avoid Wet Hides
• Never inject any product IM behind the
slope of the shoulder
»use the neck only
• Choose SQ when product allows
• Never give more than 10cc of any product
in one location, less if product directs
7
I.M.
&
SQ
IM
SQ
Intramuscular
Subcutaneous
(under skin)
Space injections a
hand width apart
Courtesy of Ohio State University
3 &4
Courtesy of Dr. Ron Gill, Texas A&M
Practice Good Sanitation
• Use boiling water to clean
syringes used for MLV. Don’t use
disinfectants or soap on inside
portion of syringe.
• Make sure the vaccine site is
clean.
• Avoid injecting into damp or wet
cattle or manure covered areas.
11
Implant Cattle Properly
• Properly restrain animals
• Clean implant needle with disinfectant
(tray and moist sponge to lay gun on)
• Never sacrifice careful implantation
technique for speed
• Sanitation is very important
Biosecurity
• System of management
procedures to prevent or
reduce the risk of
introducing disease into
your operation
• Directly affects BQA if it
poses a public health risk
with residues or disease
causing pathogens
• Indirectly if the disease
impacts the quality or the
subsequent treatment of
the disease negatively
effects quality
• Test and quarantine
replacements for at least 2
weeks but prefer 4 weeks
• Disinfect equipment
• Load and unload at the
edge of the farm
• Be careful when you return
from visits to stockyards
• Be careful when you help
neighbors that are having a
disease outbreak
• Control visitors
Written Records
Herd Health Plan
• A good health plan will decrease the risk of
food safety and beef quality defects
• A year round management calendar is highly
recommended
– Dates for major herd activities
– Dates for the different vaccinations/treatments
– Dates for breeding soundness in bulls
Why are treatment Records
Important?
• Documentation of what was done
• Written reminder of withdrawal time (and
allowable marketing date)
• Extra-label drug use
• Residue violations
• Proof of drugs used
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Record Keeping
• Keep records for at least 2 years for
– Pasture/crop pesticides
– Feed and drug additives
– Health processing
– Individual animal treatment
8
Treatment records
• Individual and group treatment records should include
– Animal ID (or group identification if group processing)
– Treatment type
– Treatment date
– Treatment dose
– Prescribed withdrawal time
– Product used with serial/lot number
and expiration date
– Route of administration
– Location of injections
– Name of person administering treatment
Feed Records
• Keep a label on each lot of
bagged feed
• On bulk commercial feeds
ask for invoices including
–
–
–
–
Date
Amount
Lot/Batch number
Signatures of person delivering and receiving the feed
• On bulk commodities keep source information
Processing/Treatment and Records
• All cattle (fed and beef or dairy
market cows/bulls) shipped to
harvest will be checked by
appropriate personnel to
ensure that animals that have
been treated have met label or
prescription withdrawal times
for all animal health products
administrated
• All processing and treatment
records should be transferred
with the cattle to next
production level.
• Prospective buyers must be
informed of any cattle that
have not met withdrawal
times
Written Records on “Paper” which are
kept for at least 2 years
KY-BQA
Read and follow the label!
Use common sense
and do things right!
Questions?