Beef producers gain 'quality' tips during BQA sessions

By LORI COPE | East Texas Edition

Dr. Ted McCollum (left), Extension beef specialist, addresses about 50 beef producers attending the Level 1 BQA training session in Sulphur Springs on Oct. 9. BQA training will be conducted in Buffalo on Oct. 29 and Glen Rose Nov. 13. -- Staff photo by Lori Cope

October 16, 2003 -- More than 97 percent of beef producers who attend Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) courses plan to make changes in their operations in order to produce high-quality beef void of any defects, according to Texas Beef Council (TBC).

"The program is great," stated Texas beef producer Kenneth Braddock of Ennis. "It's definitely headed in the right direction."

The BQA program is a cooperative effort among TBC, Texas Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA), and Texas Cooperative Extension. It's goal is to train as many beef producers as possible on management practices that will help them compete in tomorrow's protein market.

The program involves two levels of training. Currently, courses are being conducted in several locations throughout the state, and some are holding both levels of training in the same day.

Hopkins County Agricultural Extension Agent Larry Spradlin added, "I believe that this is one of the best steps that a beef producer can take to help the industry insure the quality of beef that we eat and to show the public that we as beef producers are doing all that we can to meet a high standard of product."

Braddock, a BQA "graduate," said the program has simply been an inspiration in confirming that the personal steps he's been taking over the last several years, to improve the quality of his own herd for better beef, have certainly been the right steps.

"Because what I do and how I do it, depends on my livelihood, I have done extensive research and experimenting of my own before the program existed," he explained. "It was nice to see I'm on the right track."

Braddock, who operates over 20,000 acres of a commercial cow/calf business in the Navarro, Ellis, and Henderson County areas, has attended both Level 1 and Level 2 BQA training sessions as well as an additional session at College Station.

He, as well as other BQA program participates, keeps detailed records of husbandry practices and treatments performed on their cattle, and assure their management, husbandry, and animal health practices meet regulatory and industry standards.

Braddock said probably the biggest advantage of the program is educating the smaller and newer producers who do not have the understandings and experience that the larger, long-time producers take for granted.

"Many of us long-time cattlemen understand almost everything there is to know about identifying cattle diseases or knowing what vaccinations are pertinent for the herd on a regular basis," he explained. "It's actually a scary thought to think of how little some of these producers know about the basic rules of raising cattle."

As Braddock pointed out, one bad cow, or one bad herd, can cause a lot of problems for the rest of the beef producers.

"I am so grateful that this program is out there," he said.

According to TSCRA, from the cow/calf producer to the feedlot sector, the BQA multi-level programs have proven to be a system of sensible management practices that simply improve the quality and safety of beef.

Cattle producer Ricky Cameron of Quitman is very supportive of the program as well. Cameron, who operates a cow/calf operation on approximately 350 acres, took advantage of BQA education through the newly-offered training via CD-ROM.

The interactive CD-ROM allows producers to complete Level 1 of the course at home. To complete the course, and become BQA certified, producers must attend a Level 2 training session.

"I realized that I certainly had room for improvement in two or three different areas," he explained. "For example, I made a point to fence off my ponds and creeks and provide my cattle with fresh stock tanks. I also learned more on the importance of proper disposal of carcasses, and I have improved my vaccination techniques."

He said the learning experience not only made an impression on him but he also made a point to pass the training on to his 15-year-old son.

"It's important information to know," he stated about the program. "I believe the more effort put into following the BQA criteria will improve the credibility of the producer. The (cattle) buyer will recognize that you are continually trying to provide a good, safe meat of 100 percent quality."

Dr. Ron Gill, Extension beef specialist, explained Texas has the most stringent BQA certification process in the national. "We developed the program so it would have some teeth to it," he said at the Oct. 9 BQA training in Sulphur Springs.

Gill also noted some special feeder calf sales would eventually have the consignors be BQA certified, just to further insure the cattle to be healthy, and remain healthy.

"We want to fix any (health- and quality-related) problems before they happen, and not the other way around," concluded Todd McCartney, TSCRA's producer education director.

For more information about BQA, contact TSCRA at 800-242-7820.