By Rob Eirich, Nebraska Director of BQA and Extension Beef Educator
Nebraska is the epicenter of the beef cattle community. Nebraska beef cattle producers are the Nation’s leaders and produce top quality beef for today’s consumers. When it comes to running a strong cattle operation, they do things the right way. Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) is here to help with the training and certification to build more value into your operation.
The time is NOW to get your operation BQA Certified or updated on BQA Certification. Today’s food chain is asking more questions of how their food is being raised from producers and processors. Processors are asking that cattle suppliers complete BQA Certification to ensure safe, wholesome beef products for our consumers.
Three simple ways to complete BQA Certification:
• Contact your Veterinarian or Nebraska Extension Beef Educator to assist with BQA Training.
• Attend local BQA Training - Schedule at: bqa.unl.edu
• Complete Online BQA Training free at: bqa.org
Training and Certification includes BQA Best Management Practices, Animal Health & Antimicrobial Stewardship, Stockmanship and the 2016 National Beef Quality Audit information. Nebraska BQA also offers producers additional tools to implement BQA principles to ensure quality cattle care and handling that can be found at: bqa.unl.edu .
All in-person trainings have a $20 certification fee per individual or there are discounts for operations who certify 3 or more individuals. Online training at bqa.org is free and each individual must create a profile and complete training modules.
For more information contact Rob Eirich, Nebraska Director of Beef Quality Assurance at 308.632.1230 or reirich2@unl.edu.
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