Cattle producers and allied agribusiness professionals still have time to renew or certify their training in Beef Quality Assurance. Most major packers and a sizable majority of local livestock auctions require or encourage their feedlot suppliers to have a current BQA certificate. Iowa State University Extension beef specialist Beth Doran says BQA trainings provide more than just market access.

“There is an economic incentive to be BQA certified,” she says. "Research analyzing feeder cattle sold through video auctions indicates there was a premium of $2.71 per cwt or $16.80 per head for cattle that had BQA listed in the lot description.”

Three late November trainings will be held in northwest Iowa as follows:

Nov. 23, 10 a.m. to noon, ISU Extension office in Woodbury County, 4728 Southern Hills Drive, Sioux City. RSVP to 712-276-2157.
Nov. 23, 1 to 3 p.m., ISU Extension office in Woodbury County, 4728 Southern Hills Drive, Sioux City. RSVP to 712-276-2157.
Nov. 24, 10 a.m. to noon, ISU Western Research and Demonstration Farm, County Highway E34, Castana. RSVP to 712-423-2175.    

Register for site you want to attend

To attend a session, you need to RSVP to the site you plan to attend, Doran says. Because of COVID-19, attendance at each site is limited, and face masks are encouraged. Walk-ins will not be allowed. There is no cost to attend.

The BQA certification program is designed to provide producers with new information on carcass quality, cattle handling, health management, emergency action planning and industry issues. The workshops are a collaborative effort of ISU Extension and Outreach, the Iowa Beef Center and the Iowa Beef Industry Council.

For people who are unable to attend an in-person training, BQA certification may be completed online at bqa.beeflearningcenter.org at no charge. For more information, contact Doran at 712-737-4230 or email [email protected].

Source: ISU, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.