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Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Tips - Compiled from the Beef Cattle Browsing Newsletter
by Jason Banta, Ph. D., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Beef Quality Assurance Coordinator BQA does more than just help beef producers capture more value from their market cattle: BQA also reflects a positive public image and instills consumer confidence in the beef industry. When producers implement the best management practices of a BQA program, they assure their market steers, heifers, cows, and bulls are the best they can be. Today, the stakes are even higher because of increased public attention on animal welfare. BQA is valuable to all beef and dairy producers because it: • Demonstrates commitment to food safety and quality. • Safeguards the public image of the beef industry. •
• Upholds consumer confidence in valuable beef products. • Improves sale value of marketed beef cattle.
component and one with a liquid diluent. These products should be mixed according to label directions and used within 30 minutes to 1 hour. Mixing vaccines that are not designed to mix together can reduce the efficacy (immune response) of the vaccine.
If feeding in bunks, make sure there is adequate space for all cows to eat at the same time.
Drought Unfortunately dealing with • Enhances herd profitdrought is part of being in ability through better the cattle business. During management. droughts it is important to make decisions with both the Here are some quick BQA short- and long-term success tips to get you started on your Feeding Cubes of the operation in mind. Take progam. Cubes are often used to inventory of forage and feed supply energy and protein Do Not Mix Vaccines resources and cow needs and supplementation during the When giving injections of consider if it makes sense to winter. When feeding cubes vaccines, dewormers, vitamins, on the ground it is best to feed purchase feed to stretch supetc., it is important to never plies or if some herd reduction cubes in small piles instead of mix any products together is needed. In most droughts feeding them in a continuous unless they are specifically deearly reductions in herd size line. Feeding in small piles signed and labeled to be mixed. will reduce waste and fighting. are best from a financial standThe only vaccines that should Ideally there would be enough point. Regardless of what decibe mixed together are products piles for each animal to have it’s sion is made be mindful of cow that come in the same box and own pile. In general, it is best Body Condition Scores and the the label states they should be impact it has on selling prices to feed in troughs or at least mixed together. In most cases avoid feeding on gravel or rock or future pregnancy rates. the box will contain two botroads or pads as this can intles: one with a freeze-dried crease tooth wear and breaking. continued on page 16
