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BQA addresses cattle transportation

The president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) says the industry continues to proactively train beef producers and their staff in best management practices.

In response to a new report authored by a Canadian federal scientist that details how a cattle transporter quality assurance program could help ensure the safe, humane and expeditious shipping of cattle, Tracy Brunner says aspects of the Beef Quality Assurance Program already address those issues.

“A more active approach to training of animal care employees has been undertaken.  The Beef Quality Assurance program has been a great way to deliver that information and training to beef producers and their staff around the country.”

He tells Brownfield educating farm workers and providing them proper resources has never been so important.

“We are growing more and more distant from the farm raised and farm educated employee on many livestock operations.  So we don’t have that inherent cattle savvy if you will, that for so many generations we relied on and built on.”

Sections of the Beef Quality Assurance manual specific to transporting cattle include animal handling, care, husbandry and other considerations.

Brownfield spoke to Brunner at the recent Minnesota Cattle Industry Convention in Minneapolis.