Beef Quality Assurance Training

Jamestown, NY (September 27, 2018) - If you raise beef or dairy cattle, you are encouraged to attend the upcoming Beef Quality Assurance training in Jamestown, NY. Beef Quality Assurance is a national program that provides training to beef cattle producers in food safety, proper cattle handling techniques, handling of animal health products, injection sites, and record keeping. The goal of this program is to maximize consumer confidence and acceptance of beef by focusing the producer’s attention to daily production practices that influence the safety, wholesomeness, and quality of beef and beef products.

This Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Training and Field Day is sponsored by: The Card Family, New York State Beef Producer’s Association, Chautauqua County Beef Producers, New York Beef Council, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County, and businesses that support beef and dairy producers.

This BQA Training and Field Day will be held on Saturday, October 6, 2018, from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm, in Chautauqua County, NY. The program will begin at the Frank Bratt Agricultural Center, 3542 Turner Road, Jamestown, NY at 10:00 am with the classroom training and continue after lunch with the hands-on Chute Side Training hosted by Moon Meadow Farm – Ted and Cathy Card, 3195 North Main Street, Jamestown, New York.

The BQA Chute Side Training will provide information on proper handling and use of animal health products with a demonstration and practice of proper sub-cutaneous injections. A necropsy of a beef animal, with in-depth discussion on preventing injection site lesions that affect the quality of the meat will also be featured. Our guest presenter will be Dr. Shannon Carpenter, Veterinarian with the NYS Department of Ag & Markets.

The cost for the training is $15 per person or $25 per farm which will include the program and lunch.

The BQA manual can be downloaded at no charge at: https://www.bqa.org/resources/manuals or contact Lisa Kempisty at the Cornell Cooperative Extension office to request a copy for a small fee to cover printing costs. This educational program is open to anyone involved in the beef or dairy industry, including 4-H youth.

By attending this BQA training, a producer will receive Level 1 Certification. After signing a Veterinarian Client/Patient Relationship (VCPR), a producer will be Level 2 Certified. The producer then has the opportunity to purchase a farm sign verifying the BQA certification, which can be used to indicate to consumers that the producer is BQA certified. To maintain the BQA certification, producers should attend a training every three years. The Beef Quality Assurance Program is supported by the Beef Checkoff.

Pre-registration for this BQA program is required by October 3, 2018, by contacting Lisa Kempisty with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County at ljk4@cornell.edu or 716-664-9502 Ext 203 or Ted Card, Beef Producers at lvg1259@netsync.net or 716-664-3339; if you need more information or have any questions. Reservations are required, with payment accepted the day of the program.

We look forward to having all interested beef and dairy producers attend this important educational program to learn more to ensure the safety and quality of the beef we produce and market.

Last updated September 27, 2018