Pennsylvania Center for Beef Excellence

Non-Technical Summary: PA Quality Assured (PQA) is a feeder cattle marketing program, which is used to identify and market feeder cattle that meet superior health and genetic requirements. PQA is not only an opportunity to increase marketing ability, but it is a management scheme. Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) is a program that defines how cattle should be handled, managed, vaccinated, broke to feed, weaned for minimum days, etc. prior to marketing. This not only adds value to the cattle, it is the proper BMP to manage and raise cattle for humane purposes as well. A BQA program meets many criteria of management that comes under the scrutiny of animal rights and welfare groups. There are approximately 170,000 feeder calves in PA with 27,000 beef producers. Currently, approximately 3,000 producers are BQA certified. BQA certification is good for three years before renewal training is necessary. By having a successful BQA program, it allows more producers to be managing their herd in the best possible method for perception aspects for the general public, but to add value to their product. Without as successful BQA, it could bring unwanted public scrutiny to the beef industry in PA and decrease the value of the beef herd in PA. As a result, the number of producers in the beef industry will diminish. As one can see, with only 3,000 of 27,000 producers certified, there is much need for expanding and strengthening the BQA program in PA. It is anticipated that a doubling of these numbers could increase by adding and strengthening the BQA program. As a result of this, more marketing opportunities will increase for PA produced beef. This in return will increase the farm-gate dollars of the $2 billion beef industry in the state. With this in place, it will make the industry more viable and producers being sustainable and allow the next generations to continue in the beef industry. It is anticipated that the below marketing structure could be in place within the next year with the hiring of a new employee to manage and could increase the number of calves in graded feeder calf sales. <P> Approach: General Requirements 1. To qualify for VQA, feeder cattle must be certified by a third party, such as a veterinarian, extension agent, VQA personnel, or someone who has been trained as a certifier. 2. Vaccinations are to be given according to label directions, except the initial dose of vaccines requiring booster may be given at any time after four (4) months of age; thus extending the period between the initial and booster injections. 3. All required vaccinations must be given after calves are 120 days old and at least 14 days before sale (booster should be given if required by label instructions). 4. Cattle producers must be Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) certified. 5. All vaccinations must be given in the neck area. 6. A processing map and verification form must accompany cattle. 7. Cattle must weigh a minimum of 400 pounds. 8. Heifers are guaranteed open. 9. Steers are castrated, healed and guaranteed against stags. 10. All calves are dehorned and healed. 11. Cattle are owned by the seller for at least 60 days. The PA Center for Beef Excellence, sponsors graded feeder cattle sales throughout the year in cooperation with local livestock markets to conduct the sales with assistance from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and Penn State Cooperative Extension. Results will be analyzed by a statistical package. Success will be evaluated by an increased number of tagged calves in PA Sales with increased prices; as well as, a greater number of these calves staying within PA to be fed out and then harvested in a PS slaughter facility.