Program 1:

Beef Quality Assurance


The following chapters are available in PDF format, viewable with the Adobe Acrobat Reader software. This software is free, and is found on many computers. If you need to download Acrobat Reader, go to the Adobe Web site.
The pages can be printed out on a color or black and white printer. 

Introduction

Chapter 1

Consumer Issues Processor Issues Industry Costs 
What can we do? 
Chapter 2
NCBA-BQA National Guidelines
Injection Site Blemishes 
Implants 
Implant Products & Usage Recommendations 
Cattle Handling Pesticide Storage and Management 
The Importance of Record Keeping for Beef Quality Assurance
Herd Treatment Record 
Individual Animal Treatment Record 
Chapter 3
Quality of Cull Beef and Dairy Animals 
Importance of "non-fed slaughter cattle"
Seven Strategies for Improving the Value of Cull Cows
Beef Quality Assurance Checklist 
Personal Contract for the Ranch


Chapter 4

Water Quality
Grazing Management
Natural Resource Monitoring


Chapter 5

Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Certification
Feeder Cattle Certification 
Information Transfer Information Analysis Montana Beef Network Tag Order/Enrollment Form


Chapter 6

Suggested Targets to Improve the Quality of Beef Cattle (1995, NBQA) 


Appendices

Pre-test and Post-Test Answers:
Resource Directory Glossary of Terms 
Food Safety Terms

Beef Quality Assurance

BQA is the first educational program from
Montana Beef University, the educational component of the Montana Beef Network. The Montana Beef Network is a Montana beef producer-initiated program that is supported byMontana Stockgrowers Association, 
Montana State University, and MSU Extension Service

The following Montana Beef University section is the first in a series that will present topics of importance to the beef producer. This resource guide is also provides a comprehensive tool for your involvement in the Montana Beef Network. Future sections will target 
 

  • Financial Management
  • Record Keeping
  • Breeding
  • Backgrounding
  • Reproductive and Range Management, and
  • Carcass Evaluation.


It is our goal to assist the Montana beef producer by continuing to provide educational programming that will allow us to meet consumers' demand for a safe, consistent and quality product. 

Thank You:
Montana State University is proud to be a partner with the Montana Stockgrowers Association in bringing the Montana Beef Network to the producers of our state. This program is the result of over a year of planning by individuals who have had the vision to further improve the industry by adding value to the product we produce: beef cattle. This effort would not have happened without the funding and support from a USDA grant, the Montana Department of Agriculture, the Montana Beef Council, Montana Stockgrowers Association's Research, Education and Endowment Foundation and Senator Conrad Burns. 

Acknowledgments: 
This section on Beef Quality Assurance was co-authored by Leif Anderson and Suzi Taylor, who used information and editorial comments provided by Gene Surber, Montana State University Extension county agents, Gary Cowman, Dee Griffin, Gary Smith, Harlan Ritchie, Keith Belk, Don Boggs, Jeff Windett, Bill Mies, Steve Bohr, the NE-BQA Program, CO-BQA Program, members of Montana Stockgrowers, Inc., Quinn Holzer, Jenny Bloomquist, and Jim Peterson.

For more information, contact Leif Anderson at Montana State University: anderson@montana.edu; (406) 994-7864