BQA Goes Beyond the Basics
Checkoff Program Provides Valuable Education for Producers at Every Level
By Macey Mueller
While there’s no substitute for experience when it comes to raising cattle, even producers who have spent decades in the industry understand good management involves a willingness to learn and embrace new ways of caring for their animals.
That’s the idea behind the Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program, which encourages producers at every stage of the production chain to continually evaluate and improve practices that influence cattle well-being, beef quality and food safety.
The Kansas Beef Council (KBC) has several upcoming BQA certification trainings scheduled across Kansas to give producers an opportunity to explore the latest research, enhance their management practices and strengthen their commitment to responsible cattle care.
Dr. A.J. Tarpoff, K-State beef extension veterinarian and longtime BQA educator, said the voluntary program serves as a continuing education opportunity for cattle producers, regardless of their operation size, production segment or years of experience.
"At the end of the day, our industry is about continuous improvement, not perfection," he said. "We're always trying to get better, and this is one of those mechanisms we can use to drive improvement across all sectors."
More Than the Basics
Although BQA has long been recognized for its emphasis on proper injection techniques and preventing carcass defects, Tarpoff said the program has evolved to address a much broader range of cattle management considerations.
"It's not just about injection-site lesions anymore," he said. "It's about cattle care, cattle comfort, animal behavior and things that can make your life easier on the ranch by having more information to apply practically."
Today's curriculum includes everything from cattle handling and facility design to herd health, biosecurity, husbandry practices and the industry's connection to consumers. That diversity makes the program relevant to cow-calf producers, stocker operators, feedyard personnel and others involved in raising and handling cattle.
Tarpoff said the program is especially valuable in helping producers connect science-based recommendations with the systems used in their own operations. Whether it’s evaluating ways to improve cattle flow through working facilities, considering management strategies to maintain animal comfort during extreme weather or reviewing herd health protocols, participants can identify new or improved practices worth implementing at home.
The upcoming Kansas sessions will combine a presentation with open discussion, allowing participants to ask questions and share experiences. Tarpoff, who has conducted more than 100 BQA trainings over the past 10 years, said the questions he hears most often reflect challenges producers have faced firsthand.
“Many folks want to know whether a different management approach could have prevented a specific problem they encountered,” he said. “Chances are others in the room have or will experience a similar issue, so it’s a good way to address real-world situations and identify potential solutions.”
Reasons To Recertify
BQA certification is valid for three years, providing a regular opportunity for producers to refresh their knowledge and evaluate their production methods compared to current industry recommendations.
The BQA program itself is continually reviewed and updated through a national advisory process involving producers, veterinarians, nutritionists and other industry experts. Their input helps ensure the curriculum includes the latest science and current best management practices.
For producers who completed BQA training years ago, that means recertification is a chance to potentially learn something new that could help improve their overall management approach, Weston Schrader, KBC manager of industry relations, said.
"Sometimes we get busy with the day-to-day tasks in our operations, and things become automatic,” he said. “It’s easy to just go through the motions without thinking about ways to be more practical or efficient." Schrader emphasized that revisiting those routines doesn’t mean producers are necessarily doing something wrong. Instead, it allows them to stay current on emerging industry issues, changing consumer expectations and concerns that may arise further along the beef supply chain.
Value Beyond Day-To-Day Management
While improved cattle management practices can provide immediate benefits to individual operations, Tarpoff said BQA certification also has the potential to deliver measurable economic value.
He pointed to a Colorado State University study* that evaluated more than 8,000 lots of cattle marketed through Western Livestock Auction. Researchers found that cattle identified as originating from BQA-certified operations received an average premium of approximately $2.70 per cwt, or just under $17 per head.
Although premiums are not guaranteed, Tarpoff said the findings suggest that buyers recognize value in cattle associated with documented quality assurance protocols.
Beyond the potential marketing advantages, he said the BQA program has played a significant role in strengthening consumer confidence. However, he also noted that while consumers continue to express strong demand for beef, some have questions about how cattle are raised and cared for.
BQA helps address those concerns by demonstrating that producers take animal care seriously and voluntarily invest time in learning and improving their practices. "When consumers hear ‘continuing education,’ they think about professionals like doctors, nurses and teachers," Tarpoff said. "I remind consumers all the time that the folks raising their cattle are professionals too. They take this job seriously, and they're very proud of what they do."
Investment in the Industry
Since the early 1990s, the national beef checkoff has funded BQA as an industry-led effort to provide valuable practical tools and resources to cattle producers.
“A lot of producers associate checkoff dollars with promoting and marketing beef to consumers, but those dollars are also used to support educational opportunities that help producers improve their own operations,” Tarpoff said. “Programs like BQA are a great example of how the checkoff invests in both the demand for beef and the people who raise it.”
In Kansas, KBC coordinates training opportunities in partnership with K-State Extension, drawing on the expertise of veterinary professionals like Tarpoff to deliver applicable, research-based information. Schrader said that partnership is a key part of the program's success in Kansas, as it provides producers with access to experienced professionals and trusted resources.
For Tarpoff, the opportunity to gather with fellow cattlemen is an important benefit of the training sessions. Beyond the formal curriculum, he said there's value in spending time with neighbors, discussing challenges and exchanging ideas.
“Whether a participant leaves with an entirely new management strategy or a renewed appreciation for practices they already have in place, the time that producer invests in the BQA program is worthwhile,” he said.
Upcoming Kansas BQA trainings will be held:
- Nov. 4 at the Pratt County Fairgrounds in Pratt
- Dec. 15 at Mankato Livestock Inc. in Mankato
- Dec. 17 at the K-State Extension Wild West District Office in Sublette
Each session will begin with a free beef dinner at 6 p.m. CST, followed by certification training at 6:30 p.m. To register, contact Schrader at [email protected] or (785) 273-5225.
*Mooney, Daniel F., Miles Rollison and Jason K. Ahola. Estimating the Effect of Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) on Video Cattle Prices in the U.S. West. Colorado State University, 2019. Presented at the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association Annual Meeting.