Green Tennessee

Managing cattle according to Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) guidelines has the potential to add value to the animals while ensuring that safe and wholesome beef is being produced.

Clyde Lane, a University of Tennessee Extension beef cattle specialist, says beef producers completing the BQA training are poised to add value to their animals. "Cattle buyers are looking for cattle managed according to BQA guidelines," he said.

Lane stresses that improving the profitability of cattle involves more than managing the animals according to BQA guidelines. Grouping similar kinds of animals for marketing is also required.

"Several fast food and grocery store chains are currently working toward requiring all of their suppliers to provide verification of management and health practices that have been performed and how the animals have been handled," Lane said. "This is the first step in ‘source verification’ of all animals merchandised by these and other retailers. Included in the verification process will be detailed records on birth dates of each animal plus records that include all the animal’s health treatments, feed additives, and details on how the animal has been handled."

Lane said marketing truckload lots of similar cattle has been documented to improve the value of the animals. "Managing according to BQA guidelines just adds to this value," he said. "In 2003, Montana State University researchers estimated that meeting BQA requirements added between $9.00 and $18.00 per head to the value of calves when sold in large groups."

For additional information on Beef Quality Assurance and group marketing of calves, contact the UT Extension office in your county.

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Contact: Clyde Lane, (731) 425-4717