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2024 BQA Training

Overview

Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) is a program for U.S. beef producers to improve cattle management based on scientific knowledge.

BQA is designed to improve cattle herd health and management, and enhance land stewardship and natural resources. The program can also provide value to producers from premiums when selling cattle and access to markets.

The live session hosted by Plumas-Sierra UC Cooperative Extension featured speakers Gabriele Maier, DVM, Ph.D. with UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine Assistant Specialist in Cooperative Extension with a focus on cattle health & reproduction; and Josh Davy, Livestock, Range, and Natural Resources Advisor.

The event was co-sponsored by Plumas-Sierra Cattlemen's Association. 

Tips and Resouces

  • It is important to work cattle when the Beef Temperature Humidity index is below 84 to prevent health cattle stress and maintain vaccine efficacy. 

beef cattle heat index

  • When working cattle remain calm and patient manner. Understanding cattle's flight zone can help you and others when working with cattle to reduce stress level and improve the effectiveness of cattle movement.  

flight zone

  • BQA recommends giving all injections into the neck only. 

Beef-Quality-Assurance-recommendation-to-give-all-injections-into-the-neck-only-shown-in

  • Needle selection and usage is important: 
    • Choose the right needle 
    • Do not administer more than 10cc of product per IM injection site.
    • Never reuse a bent needle. 
    • Change needle every 10-15 head, or when refilling mutli-use syringe.  
    • If blood borne diseases are a concern, change needle for each animal.

needle

  • BQA Cattle handling Tips  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c80haB0_bF4

  • UC Cooperative Extension Herd Health Online Videos and Resources  

https://ucanr.edu/sites/Rangelands/CattleHealth/