Beef Quality Assurance Training

The growing general public’s discourse of livestock handling and beef quality was identified as a concern of the Laurel County Cattleman’s Association and the Laurel County Agricultural Advisory Council.   The Laurel County Extension Service has offered the Beef Quality  and Care Assurance (BQCA) Program in response to this concern.  BQCA is a national training course developed by USDA and the beef industry.   Through participation in this voluntary program, beef producers learn to manage cattle in a manner to ensure a safe wholesome beef product for consumers.  The producer learns proper vaccine and drug practices,  feeds and feed supply safety, carcass quality practices, cattle handling and facilities, transportation and biosecurity.  They learn to manage these issues in an effective manner in order to guarantee the public that the meat products they are purchasing and serving to their families are safe, healthy, and nutritious.  In the past year, the Laurel County Cooperative Extension Service has provided BQCA training to 23 local beef producers.   By earning BQCA certification and utilizing the practices, the producers are protecting the integrity and reliability of their own farms as well as the beef industry as a whole.  Upon completion of the program one producer stated that he had raised cattle his whole life but still learned a lot.