Ohio Beef Quality Assurance Program

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NATIONAL CATTLEMEN BEEF ASSOCIATION’S
BEEF QUALITY ASSURANCE GUIDELINES

BQA GUIDELINES

The current National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Beef Quality Assurance guidelines are as follows: 

FEEDSTUFFS

• Maintain records of any pesticide/herbicide use on pasture or crops that could potentially lead to violative residues in grazing cattle or feedlot cattle.

• Assure that 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 as stipulated by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations.

• Feeding by-product ingredients should be supported with sound science.

• Only FDA approved medicated feed additives will be used in rations.

• Medicated feed additives will be used in accordance with FDA Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) regulation.

• Extra-label use of feed additives is illegal and strictly prohibited.

• To avoid violative residues, withdrawal times must be strictly followed.

• Complete records must be kept when formulating or feeding medicated feed rations.  Records are to be kept a minimum of two years.

• Operators will assure that all additives are withdrawn at the proper time to avoid violative residues.

• Following all FDA/USDA/Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines for product(s) utilized.

• All products are to be used according to label directions.

• Extra-label drug use shall be kept to a minimum, and used only when prescribed by a veterinarian working within 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:

• When cattle are processed as a group, all cattle within the group shall be identified as such, and the following information recorded:

• All cattle including dairy beef shipped for harvest 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 administered.

• All processing and treatment records should be transferred with cattle to next production level.  Prospective buyers must be informed of any cattle that have not met withdrawal times.

• Products labeled for subcutaneous (SQ) administration should be administered ahead of the shoulders.

• All products labeled for intramuscular (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 rate are recommended and proper spacing should be followed.

• No more than 10 cc of product is administered per IM injection site.

• All cattle will be handled/transported in such a fashion as 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.

• Provide appropriate nutritional and feedstuff management.

• Strive to maintain an environment appropriate to the production setting.

• Biosecurity should be evaluated. 

Policy Statement

The Ohio Farm Animal Care Commission (OFACC) was organized in 1990 to provide leadership on matters related to farm animal care.  In 1997 the organization changed its name to the Ohio Livestock Coalition (OLC) to provide leadership and lend support to the recommendations made by the Ohio Livestock Industry Task Force which released its report in late 1996.  The Ohio Farm Animal Care Commission was then designated as a vital part of the Ohio Livestock Coalition. 

The commission has dedicated itself to the promotion of sound animal husbandry practices in the care and efficient production of animals used for food and fiber.  The use of proper animal husbandry practices minimizes stress, improves animal efficiency and profitability for the farmer and insures a safe, healthy and wholesome product to the consumer at a reasonable price. 
The Ohio Farm Animal Care Commission believes animals are vital to human existence and therefore, deserve our protection and compassion.  Humans have had an inseparable relationship with animals and nature, as man has served as their sole caretaker for centuries.  Yet, humanity is answerable to another set of laws and concepts that is uniquely a product of human society.  Animals cannot be made subject to laws that we as human beings are governed by and therefore, do not have the rights of humans. 

The Ohio Farm Animal Care Commission firmly believes that all animals use other animals for their existence.  Thus, the responsible use of animals by humans is natural and appropriate. 

The Ohio Farm Animal Care Commission believes that farmers take pride in their responsibility to provide proper care for their animals and endorse the following “Code of Practices”. 

Code of Practices

The following describes general responsibilities of the farmer and all persons in his or her authority in the proper care and handling of animals raised for food and fiber. 

• To provide food, water, and care necessary to protect the health and welfare of my animals. 
• To provide a safe and healthy environment for my animals that is clean, well ventilated, and provides ample space. 
• To provide a well-planned disease prevention program to protect the health of my herd or flock.  This includes a strong veterinarian/client relationship. 
• To use humane and sanitary methods when it becomes necessary to dispose of my animals. 
• To make timely inspections of all animals to evaluate the health and insure that all basic requirements are being met. 
• To insure proper handling techniques are used to eliminate any undue stress or injury when manual manipulation is necessary. 
• To provide transportation for my animals that avoids undue stress or injury caused by overcrowding, excessive time in transit, or improper handling when loading or unloading. 
• The willful mistreatment of my animals or the mistreatment of any animal will not be tolerated.  In cases of mistreatment, I will notify the proper authorities. 
• To make management decisions based on scientific fact and to consider the welfare of my animals. 
• We encourage livestock producers to complete species-specific quality assurance programs. 

THE OHIO LIVESTOCK ENVIRONMENTAL ASSURANCE PROGRAM

Producing high quality, nutritious food on Ohio’s farms has been a hallmark of our industry.  As our world grows more crowded, however, we are challenged with the need to assure that our farms are environmentally responsible as well as economically viable. 

The Ohio Livestock Environmental Assurance Program (LEAP) goal is to expand your knowledge of on-farm environmental technology and enhance the livestock industry’s environmentally responsible image.  The program is organized into three parts: 

1. General Concepts provides a primer for environmental assurance fundamentals.  All programs will cover this basic information. 
2. Applications focuses on topics that are specific to producer groups.  Your facilitator will select among these or supplement others targeted to your training group’s needs. 
3. Implementation provides resources, contacts, and references specific to Ohio that will assist you in applying the action plan  you develop at the completion of the program. 

The Ohio Livestock Coalition 
P.O. Box 479 
Columbus, OH  43216 
(614) 249-2435 

Members include:
COBA/Select Sires, Ohio Cattlemen’s Association, Ohio Corn Growers Association, Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, Ohio Dairy Farmer’s Federation, Ohio Poultry Association, Ohio Pork Producers Council, Ohio Sheep Improvement Association, Ohio Soybean Association, Ohio Veterinary Medical Association, United Producers Incorporated. 

In Cooperation with:
Ohio Department of Agriculture; Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Soil & Water Conservation; Ohio Environmental Protection Agency; Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Ohio State University Extension (OSUE); and USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service. 

Identify potential quality problems through the use of an appropriate checklist.  The checklist will assist in the identification of Critical Management Points (CMP) where problems may occur.  Limits must be established for preventative measures associated with each CMP.   For example, any injection not given in the neck is outside the Critical Limit (CL).  Establish rapid corrective actions.  Establish a record keeping procedure. 

• COW/CALF CHECKLIST
• FEEDLOT CHECKLIST

It is anticipated as producers evolve in this program there will be a desire to have their operation certified under the Ohio BQA standards.  Therefore, the following guidelines are examples of program expectations in order to become an Ohio BQA certified producer/supplier. 
 

• A close working relationship with a veterinarian shall be established. 
• All animals shall be individually identified.Only FDA approved medicated feed additives will be used and in accordance with the FDA label, including   administration, dosage, and withdrawal time. 

• Medicated feed records will be maintained for a  minimum of one year and will identify the additives used, date produced, ration number or name, and amount produced. 
• All individual injections will be given in the neck region, PERIOD! 
• All individual treatments will be in accordance with FDA/USDA guidelines. 
• Products will be administered per label instructions with no more than 10 cc administered per injection site. 
• Treatment procedures and withdrawal periods will comply with label directions unless extra label drug use is specifically prescribed by a veterinarian within a valid Veterinarian/Client/Patient/Relationship. 
• When extra-label treatments are given, recommended extended withdrawal periods will be obeyed. 
• Individual treatment records will consist of date, pen-group designation, product used, amount given, route and location given, and withdrawal time. 
• Prior to being shipped or harvested, all cattle will be checked to verify withdrawal times have been met. 
• All records will be kept for at least two years and copies will be available if desired by the next owner of the cattle. 
• All animal handlers, including transporters, shall avoid bruising of cattle. 
• All animals not intended for breeding purposes will be dehorned prior to leaving the farm. 
• All male animals not intended for breeding will be castrated at less than eight months of age prior to leaving the farm 
• All animals will be managed under the Ohio Farm Animal Care Commission guidelines for animal care. 
• Livestock farms will be managed under the Livestock Environmental Assurance Program (LEAP) guidelines for environmental stewardship. 

Program and Manual Development 
 

• Stephen Boyles, OSU Extension Beef Specialist 
• Francis Fluharty, OSU Extension Beef Specialist 
• Henry Zerby, OSU Extension Meat Specialist 
• William Shulaw, OSU Extension Veterinarian 
• Gary Fike, OSU Extension Youth Quality Assurance 
• Elizabeth Harsh, Executive Director, Ohio Cattlemen’s Association 
• Anna Henry, Member Program Coordinator, Ohio Cattlemen’s Association 
• Gary Wilson, President, Ohio Cattlemen’s Association 
• David Glauer, State Veterinarian, Ohio Department of Agriculture 
• Robin Burton, Administrative Assistant, Ohio Department of Agriculture 
• Steve DeBruin, Private Veterinarian 

Appreciation is expressed to Jeff Workman, OSU Graduate Research Associate, for his contributions to the section on Quality Assurance of Market Cows and Bulls. 

This document was paid for from federal funds obtained through the USDA Food Safety Inspection Service.

All cooperators provide equal opportunity in employment and services.