Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) is a program to ensure that beef and dairy cattle are maintained in a manner which will result in a safe and wholesome beef product for the consumer. This is the definition and the goal of BQA. Specifically, BQA is designed to enhance carcass quality by preventing residues, pathogen contamination and carcass defects such as injection site blemishes and bruises. The Pennsylvania  BQA Certification Program is based on recommended national guidelines and scientific research. This will enable beef producers to enhance their product and maximize marketability.

Best Management Practices

In BQA BEEF

Best management practices (BMP) in BQA (BEEF Quality Assurance), are documented actions intended to maximize consistency, Humane handeling and repeatability of outcomes from your individual process. Production of BQA Certifed Cattle will benefit from implementation of general BMPs and BQA guidelines. However, BQA producers face additional challenges due to choosing not to use specific technologies common in "conventional" beef production. In particular, "Natural BEEF Production" does not allow use of growth promoting implants and animal derived feedstuffs.


The following BMPs focus on health and nutrition for our natural beef production. These are areas of special attention that are practiced on all BQA beef production farms. Enlisting veterinary and nutritional assistance from professionals with experience in your operations (or a similar one) is strongly recommended. A written HACCP-like program should be developed including a complete set of records documenting source and process verification, preventive health practices, feeding performance, medical history, disposition of animals that fallout of the BMP or BQA program and carcass value for use in an ongoing continuous improvement process.

Our Animal Health BMPs:

Our health program has been reviewed with our qualified veterinarian, who is familiar with our operation.

  • At THE KUHN FAMILY FARM all of our cattle are "Naturally" weaned.  We let the calf wean itself. It's less stressful on the calf.

  • "Banding" of the bull calves is done before they are 2 months old.  This also is much less stressful on the calf than castration.

  • All our cattle receive two (2) doses of a 5-way modified-live vaccine including IBR, BVD-1, BVD-2, BRSV and PI3 by the time they are 6 months old.  And than again in the spring and fall.  Unless they are pregnant Heifers/Cows.

  • All our cattle are treated for external and internal parasites in June and November.

 


Our Nutritional BMPs:

Our nutritional program was reviewed with a qualified nutritionist experienced with our type of Catle operation.

  • Free-choice Hay and clean water are always available when the cattle are either out on ratational pastures or in the barn during inclimate weather.

  • Our overall nutritional program is very simple.  It was developed with the intent of optimizing health and performance based off of the age, maternity time period, weight and weather.

  • Routine monitoring of dry hay quality and pasture re-growth to assure quality, and avoidance of substances introduced into the pastures such as wind blown debris from surrounding farms (Ag Bag plastic), and road litter (Beer can's on Sunday mornings), is closely monitored.

Our Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), are written and frequently reviewed to insure hay, supplements such as Mol-Mag Pasture Mineral Blocks, water, equipment and handeling facilities contamination with unapproved substances does not occur.

Consumers who choose natural beef expect the growers of those cattle to adhere to methods that promote the health and welfare of humans, animals and the environment. Their standards are high, making the opportunity to produce natural beef a great one. Fortunately, there are scientifically proven products and best management practices that are well-suited for attaining these standards.
 
If your a BEEF Producer who is seeking to participate in the growing of natural beef, you should first:

  • Understand the standards -- investigate the individual program requirements of the brand(s) being targeted.  Natural brands commonly prohibit the use of growth promoting implants and/or antibiotics including ionophores.

  • Consider the unique challenges -- Animal health and growth performance can both be adversely impacted when a natural beef production plan is implemented. Producers should be aware of these potential costs and the natural solutions to overcome them.

  • Implement science-based natural technologies -- Natural beef production can be just as progressive as it is plate-friendly. Natural beef producers can benefit from proven technologies that enhance the health and productivity of animals in the BQA/Natural beef system. Consult your veterinarian or nutritionist to understand what practices work best for your cattle operation.

Health Maintenance
 
Humane and profitable natural beef production starts with a sound health maintenance strategy. In addition to preventing the direct loss of animals, the goal should be to avoid the cost of treatment and lost productivity that comes with sick cattle.

The fact that antibiotic use is commonly prohibited in natural beef production poses a challenge to the health maintenance strategy. And given that around 25% of all US cattle are treated with therapeutic antibiotics at some point in their lives, managers must adopt best management practices that ward off disease, particularly when cattle are made more vulnerable by stress. 


The emergence of natural and organic meat and dairy products (20% annual growth rate) as a significant production segment has created a strong need for non-antibiotic health maintenance products. As the natural/organic meat industry grows, so too will the value of keeping natural beef animals healthy. Cattle lose $100/head in value each time they drop-out of a natural beef program.  The adoption of BQA  have been found to be beneficial in maintaining animal wellness.

 

Growth and Feed Efficiency
 
Cattle productivity remains an important economic driver in natural beef production. Without the benefits of some prohibited growth promotion technologies (implants, ionophores and some antibiotics), natural beef producers can face production cost increases up to $80 per head. Fortunately, best management practices and consumer-friendly technologies such as the BQA program can be incorporated into a management plan that helps gain back feed efficiency, rate-of-gain, and metabolic disorders (bloat, digestive disorders, etc.) associated with high concentrate diets can be averted.