September 13, 2001

Beef Quality Assurance Program Offered For N.D. Cattle Feeders

North Dakota’s successful Beef Quality Assurance Program is being expanded to include the state’s cattle feeders. The first Feedlot BQA program will be held Sept. 20 at 1 p.m. at the North Dakota State University Carrington Research Extension Center.

"This an opportunity for feeders to improve their record-keeping methods and skills and have their employees trained in practices that will assure improved quality beef products, says Lisa Lee, BQA coordinator with the NDSU Extension Service. She notes that some beef processors are only buying cattle that were raised and fed by BQA-certified producers. Others pay a premium for cattle from BQA-certified producers.

The cost of the program in Carrington is $15 per operation. Topics will include a definition of beef quality assurance, the status of the beef industry, implants, feeds and feed additives, bruising and cattle handling, drug labels, biologicals and pharmaceuticals, injections and records and record keeping.

The North Dakota BQA Program was developed three years ago in cooperation with the North Dakota Stockman’s Association and is administered by the NDSU Extension Service.

For more information, contact Lee at (701) 328-5134 or lisalee@ndsuext.nodak.edu .

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Source: Lisa Lee, (701) 328-5134, lisalee@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Editor: Tom Jirik, (701) 231-9629, tjirik@ndsuext.nodak.edu

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