Get Beef Quality Assurance certified, help boost confidence in beef

    United States beef producers are a resilient group. Not only do they work through environmental challenges such as drought, blizzards, floods and other natural disasters, they are also at the mercy of the cattle markets when the time comes to sell their calf crop.
    Consumers are in the driver’s seat when it comes to demand for U.S. beef. A growing trend has seen consumers questioning how and where their food was raised and harvested. Consumers are concerned about chemical residues and animal care and handling. With this in mind, what can beef producers do to help reassure the public that the beef they are producing is a safe, wholesome protein source? One of the first steps to take is to become Beef Quality Assurance certified.
    According to the BQA website, the Beef Quality Assurance program is a national program that raises consumer confidence by offering proper management techniques and a commitment to quality within every segment of the beef industry.
    BQA isn’t a new program. The idea began in the late 1970s with a program called Beef Safety Assurance. This program originally addressed real and perceived beef safety issues, specifically the proper use of pharmaceutical products and adhering to withdrawal time guidelines. In the early 1990s, the program took on the Beef Quality Assurance title and state programs were funded by Beef Check-Off dollars. The program has continued to grow and develop, based on results from beef quality audits and consumer and producer needs.

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