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NDSU Extension Beef Quality Assurance Meetings Set

Extension will hold three BQA certification sessions in December.

Cattle processors are responding to consumers who want to know more about the food they consume.

Several of the larger beef processers have started requiring beef quality assurance (BQA) certification for cattle feeders. As of Jan. 1, 2019, these processors won’t purchase fed cattle unless the feed yard is BQA certified.

“This social transparency is needed by the corporations that buy beef from the processors,” says Karl Hoppe, Extension livestock systems specialist at North Dakota State University’s Carrington Research Extension Center.

“Quality assurance is needed to maintain high-quality beef,” he adds. “Consumers want reassurance that cattle producers are continuing to do an outstanding job of raising high-quality beef.”

Producers can obtain BQA feed yard certification by attending a Beef Quality Assurance session.

Lisa Pederson, NDSU Extension beef quality assurance specialist, will conduct BQA certification meetings specifically for feedlots at three location in North Dakota in December. The 2 1/2-hour certification sessions are scheduled for:

  • Dec. 6, 2 p.m., Lake Region Livestock Auction, Devils Lake
  • Dec. 12. 1 p.m., North Dakota Stockmen’s Association’s Beyond the Bunk meeting, Ramada by Wyndham, Bismarck
  • Dec. 20, 1 p.m., NDSU Carrington Research Extension Center

The cost for BQA certification is $15 for a three-year certification. Some producers already may be BQA certified if they attended a cow herd certification session.

Another option for BQA certification is to take the online Beef Quality Assurance “feedyard” option. This online session will take three hours to complete and can be found at www.bqa.org/certification/online-certification.

For more information, contact Hoppe at 701-652-2951 or karl.hoppe@ndsu.edu, or Pederson at 701-424-3603 or lisa.pederson@ndsu.edu.


NDSU Agriculture Communication - Nov. 20, 2018

Source:Karl Hoppe, 701-652-2951, karl.hoppe@ndsu.edu
Editor:Ellen Crawford, 701-231-5391, ellen.crawford@ndsu.edu
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