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Beef Quality Assurance (BQA)
The purpose of The Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program is to identify and avoid areas in
beef production operations where defects in quality can occur. The program encourages beef
operations to seek all sources of information needed to accomplish the BQA goal and
objectives. The BQA program is a cooperative effort between beef producers, veterinarians,
nutritionists, suppliers, and other professionals. The program asks everyone involved with
beef production to follow the government guidelines for product use and to use common
sense, reasonable management skills, and accepted scientific knowledge to avoid product
defects at the consumer level. The goal of the BQA program is to assure the consumer that
all cattle shipped from a beef operation are healthy, wholesome and safe, and their
management has met all government and industry standards.
The BQA objectives for the beef operation should be to:
1. Set production standards for the beef operation that can be met or exceeded.
2. Establish systems for data retention and record keeping. Record keeping systems that
meet government and industry guidelines allow validation of management activities and
fulfill the program goal.
3. Provide hands on training and education for participants to meet or exceed the guidelines
of the BQA program and to realize the benefits of such program.
4. Provide technical assistance through cattlemen associations, veterinarians and university
staff. The beef operation veterinarian should serve as the facilitator of the BQA program
for the beef operation.
Important Points to Remember for BQA to be Successful
1. The beef operation management and staff cannot foresee all potential problems. Identify
one area at a time, then develop and implement a plan for assuring quality in that area of
production. The experience gained will make it easier to develop quality assurance in
other areas of the operation.
2. Violative residues and product-related defects can be avoided if animal health products
are administered according to government and industry standards and if BQA record
keeping standards are maintained.
3. There are a number of safeguards built into the beef feeding system that help avoid quality
defects. These include: handling of animals on an individual basis, the length of time
required to produce a finished product, and the quality and safety built into modern health
related technologies of beef production.
4. Every employee must be trained to know, understand and identify areas where possible
contamination with violative residues or quality defects may occur. Anyone who supplies
services, commodities, or products to a producer must understand the beef operation's
quality assurance objectives.
5. The beef operation must be able to document all the steps of production. Good production
records allow for documentation, analysis and improved financial decisions.
6. There are points in production that must be monitored to ensure no residue violations or
carcass defects occur. The critical points include, but are not limited to: incoming cattle,
products and commodities, cattle handling and evaluation of outgoing cattle.
7. There are production areas that have higher residue and carcass defect risks than others.
High-risk production areas include, but are not limited to: non-performing cattle, unusual
single source feed ingredients, and suppliers of non-standard supplies.
BQA GUIDELINES AND AGREEMENTS
Feedstuffs and Sources
 Maintain records of any pesticide/herbicide use on pasture or crops that could
potentially lead to violative residues in grazing cattle or feedlot cattle.
 Adequate quality control program(s) are in place for incoming feedstuffs.
Program(s) should be designed to eliminate contamination from molds, mycotoxins
or chemicals of incoming feed ingredients. Supplier assurance of feed ingredient
quality is recommended.
 Suspect feedstuffs should be analyzed prior to use.
 Ruminant-derived protein sources cannot be fed per FDA regulations.
 Feeding by-products ingredients should be supported with sound science.
Feed Additives and Medications
 Only FDA approved medicated feed additives will be used in rations.
 Medicated feed additives will be used in accordance with the FDA Good
Manufacturing Practices (GMP) regulation.
 Follow Judicious Antibiotic Use Guidelines.
 Extra-label use of feed additives is illegal and strictly prohibited.
 To avoid violative residues --- withdrawal times must be strictly adhered to.
 Where applicable, complete records must be kept when formulating or feeding
medicated feed rations.
 Records are to be kept a minimum of two years.
 Operator will assure that all additives are withdrawn at the proper time to avoid
violative residues.
Animal Health Products (Processing & Treatment) and Records
 Following all FDA/USDA/EPA guidelines for product(s) utilized.
 All products are to be used per label directions.
 Extra-label drug use shall be kept to a minimum, and uses only when prescribed by
a veterinarian working under a Valid Veterinary Client Patient Relationship (VCPR).
 Strict adherence to extended withdrawal periods (as determined by the veterinarian
within the context of a valid VCPR) shall be employed.
 Treatment records will be maintained with the following recorded:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Individual animal or group identification
Date treated
Product administrated and manufacture's lot/serial number
Dosage used
Route and location of administration
Earliest date animal will have cleared withdrawal period.
 When cattle are processed as a group, all cattle within the group shall be identified as
such, and the following information recorded:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Group or lot identification
Date treated
Product administered and manufacturer's lot/serial number.
Dosage used.
Route and location of administration.
Earliest date animal will have cleared withdrawal period.
 All cattle (fed and non-fed) shipped to slaughter will be checked by appropriate
personnel to assure that animals that have been treated meet or exceed label or
prescription withdrawal times for all animal health products administrated.
 All processing and treatment records should be transferred with the cattle to next
production level. Prospective buyers must be informed of any cattle that have not
met withdrawal times.
Injectable Animal Health Products
 Products labeled for subcutaneous (SQ) administration should perferrably be
administered SQ in the neck region.
 All products labeled for intra-muscular (IM) use shall be given in the neck region
only (no exceptions, regardless of age).
 All products cause tissue damage when injected IM. Therefore all IM use should
be avoided if possible.
 Products cleared for SQ, IV or oral administration are recommended.
 Products with low dosage rates are recommended and proper spacing should be
followed.
 No more than 10 cc of product is administered per IM injection site.
Care and Husbandry Practices
 Follow the ‘Quality Assurance Herd Health Plan’ that conforms to good veterinary
and husbandry practices.
 All cattle will be handled / transported in such a fashion to minimize stress, injury
and/or bruising.
 Facilities (fences, corrals, load-outs, etc.) should be inspected regularly to ensure
proper care and ease of handling.
 Strive to keep feed and water handling equipment clean.
 Provide appropriate nutritional and feedstuffs management.
 Strive to maintain an environment appropriate to the production setting.
 Bio-security should be evaluated.
 Records should be kept for a minimum of 2years (3 for Restricted Use Pesticides)
BQA GOOD MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (GMP)
Feedstuffs and Commodity Sources
Monitoring Feedstuffs
It is essential to monitor feed sources. Beef operations purchasing outside feeds should
maintain a sampling program to test for quality specifications of feedstuffs. This could include
moisture, protein, foreign material, etc. Suppliers should be informed that sampling of
delivered products will occur. A good business practice is to require all products to be
accompanied by an invoice, which includes the date, amount and signatures of both the
person who delivered the product and the person who received the product. Grain suppliers
should understand that protectants can have withdrawal times. Most good suppliers have a
quality control testing program of their own. Bonded suppliers often test for polychlorinated
biphenyls, chlorinated hydrocarbons, organophosphates, pesticides and herbicides, heavy
metals, and microbes (Salmonella). As part of the BQA program, the beef operation should
ask for the test results.
A quality control program for feedstuffs aids in preventing chemical residues and ensures high
quality feeds. Visual inspection of feeds can be effective in avoiding some problems. Create
a check list which includes such items as color (typical, bright, and uniform), odor (clean and
characteristic), moisture (free flowing, no wet spots and moisture testing), temperature (no
evidence of heating), no evidence of foreign material and no evidence of bird, rodent or insect
contamination.
It is neither efficient nor economically feasible to test every load of grain or forage for
contaminants. However, a logical alternative is to obtain and store a representative sample of
each batch of newly purchased feed. Commonly, a thorough investigation of suspected feed
related problems is not possible because no representative sample is available for testing. If
feed sampling and storage is done on a routine basis and a suspected feed-related problem
occurs, samples for appropriate laboratory testing will be available. A recommended
sampling method for purchased grains, supplements or complete feeds is to randomly sample
each batch of feed in five to ten locations and pool the individual samples into a larger sample
of two to five pounds. The pooled sample should be placed in a paper bag or small cardboard
box, labeled and frozen. Dry samples can be labeled and kept in a dry area. Higher moisture
samples should be frozen. A feed tag should be attached to the sample for future reference if
needed.
Forage samples should also be collected and stored. If multiple bales of hay are purchased,
representative samples should be obtained from several bales and mixed together prior to
storage. Core samples are preferred over "grab" samples, particularly from large bales of
hay. Most hay samples can be placed in a labeled paper bag and kept in a clean, dry area.
High Risk Feeds
High-risk feeds are single loads or batches that will be fed to cattle over a prolonged period of
time, thereby exposing large numbers of cattle. Examples of high-risk feeds include fats,
rendered by-products, plant by-products, supplements, and additives. Typically, these
feedstuffs are only a small percent of the total diet and are very expensive to test. Suppliers
should understand the beef operation BQA concerns and should provide quality specifications
with the product. It is best to do business with a bonded supplier. Find dependable suppliers
and stay with them.
Ruminant By-Products
Because of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) concerns, certain ruminant derived
protein sources such as meat and bone meal, rumen paunch, etc cannot be fed. Ruminant
derived products, such as tallow and blood by-products are acceptable under the BQA
program. Pure porcine and equine meat and bone meals can be fed to beef operation cattle.
Cattle are excellent recyclers and are therefore present opportunities for feeding unusual feed
stuff. Examine novel feeds closely for cross contamination with ruminant by-products.
Examples would include discarded dry dog food, poultry liter, etc.
Potential Feed Toxins
It is important that beef operation managers and staff have some knowledge about the
relative toxicities of chemicals to livestock so that highly toxic chemicals, such as soil
insecticides, can be handled and stored properly. All chemicals should be treated as potential
hazards and should be stored away from feed storage and mixing areas. If a feed-related
poisoning is suspected, it is critical for the beef operation veterinarian to contact a diagnostic
laboratory for assistance in confirming the suspicion. Some poisoning incidents may be a
reportable to the appropriate federal or state/provincial government agencies.
Naturally occurring mycotoxins also pose a threat to quality beef production in the beef
operation. Mycotoxins can be found in grains and forages and, if present in sufficient
concentrations, can cause reduced feed consumption, poor production and adverse health
effects. Mycotoxins can be produced in feedstuffs prior to harvesting or during storage.
Some feedstuffs come from processes that actually concentrate toxins. For example, protein
based toxins survive fermentation during ethanol production and by-products feedstuffs from
these facilities will have higher levels of protein based toxins than in the grain used to make
the ethanol. Commonly found mycotoxins include aflatoxin, vomitoxin, zearalenone and
fumonisins in grain, primarily corn and slaframine in red clover. Ergot alkaloids can be found
in either grain or grass hays.
Fats
Steps should be taken to ensure that purchased fats and oils do not contain a residue.
Discuss the quality of product with suppliers and request information concerning the sources,
quality, stability, efficacy, and consistency of the product. Beef operations may be
approached by brokers who offer a cheaper source of feed grade fats, however, the potential
for contamination increases with cheaper sources of fats.
A reputable dealer should be testing fats for such contaminants as polychlorinated biphenyls
(PCB’s), chlorinated hydrocarbons (CHC), pesticides, heavy metals, Salmonella and tall oil
(hydrocarbon). Verification of testing should accompany the product.
Feeding Good Management Practices (GMP)
Good management practices include having feed handling facilities designed to reduce the
risk of feed contamination with chemicals, foreign materials and disease causing infectious
agents. All chemicals (pesticides, lubricants, solvents, medications, etc) should be stored
away from feed supplies. Feed handling equipment should be routinely checked for fluid
leaks. Avoid storing feedstuffs around electrical transformers. Dual purpose equipment, such
as a loaders (including shovels) which may handle feed and other materials (such as manure
or dead animal removal), should be thoroughly cleaned before handling feed. No vehicles
other than feed handling equipment should be allowed into feed storage areas, such as silage
pits. The most common source of infectious agent contamination comes from animal or
human feces. It is important to protect feedstuffs, feed troughs and water supplies from
contamination with chemicals, foreign material and feces. Control of rodents, birds and other
wildlife is important to avoid fecal contamination with many common infectious agents.
Animal Treatments and Health Maintenance
Quality Assurance Herd Health Plan
The hallmark of health maintenance starts with an appropriate herd health plan that follows
the Quality Assurance Herd Health Plan Minimum Guidelines. These include:
For all cattle and production segments
 Provide appropriate nutritional feedstuffs.
 Handle cattle to minimize stress and bruising.
 All injections administered in front of the shoulder.
 Individually identify any animals treated to ensure proper withdrawal time.
 Make records available to the next production sector.
 Always read and follow label directions.
 Keep records of all products administered including: product used, serial number,
amount administered, route of administration and withdrawal time.
Heifers and purchased breeding stock entering the cow herd
 Vaccinate in front of the shoulder for viral and clostridial diseases.
o Two vaccinations, two to three weeks apart.

Control external and internal parasites.
Cow Herd
 Control external and internal parasites.
 Annually booster vaccinations in front of the shoulder.
 Consult with your veterinarian for additional health procedures appropriate to your
area.
At Pre-weaning, Weaning and/or Backgrounding
 If implanting, administer implants properly in a sanitary manner
 Vaccinate in front of the shoulder for viral and clostridial diseases.
o Two vaccinations, two to three weeks apart.
 Perform all surgeries such as dehorning and castration in a humane manner.
 Control external and internal parasites.
 Consult with your veterinarian for additional health procedures appropriate to your
area.
 Keep records of all products administered including: product used, serial number,
amount administered, route of administration and withdrawal time.
 Wean cattle (45 days recommended) to ensure cattle health and producer return on
health management investment.
Management of Product Use
Beef operations have done an excellent job of controlling violative drug residues. This been
accomplished by placing emphasis on the identification of treated cattle and good record
keeping. This includes identifying each animal treated, accurately recording the product (s)
used, treatment date and treatment dosage, and following prescribed withdrawal times.
Treatment Protocol Book
The beef operation veterinarian should provide a Treatment Protocol Book specific to the beef
operation operation. The Treatment Protocol Book should be reviewed regularly and updated
at least every 90 days, or more often if appropriate. One copy of the Treatment Protocol Book
should be kept at the treatment facility and another copy should be maintained in the beef
operation office. A written treatment protocol, along with current prescriptions are important
documents that the beef operation must have if there is a government inspection of the beef
operation facilities, drug usage procedures and residue avoidance plans. Of greater
significance, the treatment book provides written guidelines for animal health programs, thus
minimizing chances of mistakes or misunderstandings.
Injections
A critical part of a beef operation BQA program is the proper administration of animal health
products. All injections should be given in front of the shoulders-- never in the rump or back
leg. When possible, IM injections should be avoided. However, some animal health products
are labeled for IM use only. If intramuscular (IM) medications must be used, administer them
in the neck and never exceed 10 cc per IM injection site. As a general rule, beef operation
personnel should not inject more than 10 ml-subcutaneously in each injection site, however,
some products are labeled for use up to 20 ml per injection site.
Bent and Broken Needles
The veterinarian should train all beef operation personnel on the proper way to handle cattle,
cattle restraint and proper injection technique. Improper animal restraint is the cause of most
bent needle problems. If a needle bends, it should never be straightened and reused. While
very rare, a needle can break off in the muscle. A broken needle is an emergency and time
will be of the essence. Broken needles migrate in tissue and if not immediately handled will be
impossible to find, requiring the animal to be destroyed. Under no circumstances can animals
with broken needles be sent to market. The veterinarian should outline procedures for
handling such cases in the Treatment Protocol Book. Purchasing high quality needles,
changing and discarding damaged needles and providing proper restraint are all preventative
measures. Guidelines for needle selection are found in Table XX.
Table XX: Guidelines for Needle Selection for Beef operation Cattle
Route of Administration
SQ
IV
IM
( 1/2 to 3/4 inch needle )
( 1 1/2 inch needle )
( 1 to 1 1/2 inch needle )
Cattle Weight
Injectable
Viscosity
<300
300-700
Cattle Weight
>700
<300
Cattle Weight
300-700
>700
<300
300-700
>700
18
18-16
16
18-16
16
16-14
20-18
18-16
18-16
Example: Virus Vaccine
gauge
gauge
gauge
gauge
gauge
gauge
gauge
gauge
gauge
Thick
18-16
18-16
16
16
16-14
16-14
18
16
16
Example: oxytetracycline
gauge
gauge
gauge
gauge
gauge
gauge
gauge
gauge
gauge
Thin
SELECT THE NEEDLE TO FIT THE CATTLE SIZE (THE SMALLEST PRACTICAL SIZE WITHOUT BENDING)
Change needles frequently (10 to 15 head).
Change needle if contaminated or damaged
Never straighten a needle… the second time it
bends there is a chance it will break.
16 gauge ½ to ¾ inch needles work well for SQ.
16 gauge 1 to 1 ½ inch needles work well for IM.
NEVER INJECT ANYTHING BEHIND THE
SLOPE OF THE SHOULDER !!!
Select SQ product when possible
NEVER EXCEED 10CC / IM SITE !!!
Injection Site Diagram