Montana Beef Quality Assurance Certification Course

• Tutorial Main
• Introduction
  • Education Team
  • Intro to BQA
  • BQA History / Nat. Audits
  • 2005 Nat. Audit
  • Top 10 Industry Goals
  • Defining Quality Beef / Cattle Care
• Regional Curriculum
• Record Keeping
  • Effective Record Keeping
  • Information Recorded
• Care & Handling
  • Producer Attitude
  • Animal Behavior
  • Facilities & Transportation
  • Nutrition
• Feed & Additives
  • Feed
  • Additives
  • Handling / Monitoring
• Animal Health
  • Vaccines
  • Injections
  • Needles
  • Implants
  • Parasite Control
  • Antimicrobials
• Processing
  • Vaccinations
  • Dehorning & Castration
  • Identification
  • Weaning
• Carcass Quality
  • Quality Grade
  • Yield Grade
  • Other Quality Issues
• Marketing
  • Source & Age Verificiation
  • Market Timing
  • Cow Marketing
  • Feeder Calf Grades
  • Shrink
• Breeding & Genetics
  • Uniformity & Consistency
  • EPDs
  • Crossbreeding
• Biosecurity Basics
  • Disease Control
  • Learning Tough Lessons
  • Attention to Zoonotics
  • Agroterrorism
• Certification Process
• MT BQA Directives
• BQA Code
• Certification Exam

Funded, in part, by beef and veal producers and importers through their $1-per-head check off through the Cattlemen's Beef Board and state beef councils by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association.

Montana BQA Certification

The centerpiece of BQA lies in formal certification according to a set of national BQA standards.

Many buyers of feeder calves and breeding stock are seeking out sources of livestock from BQA certified operations and individuals. In some cases cattle eligible for certain marketing programs must come from BQA certified operations. By applying BQA practices and standards producers are opening up a market outlet for those progressive beef cattle producers who become certified.

Becoming BQA Certified in Montana

BQA certification can be accomplished by:

1. Attending local programs and statewide meet-ings that are approved for certification by the state BQA program committee. At each program individuals must complete the current BQA Certification Exam.
2. Logging on to the BQA website and taking the on–line course and successful completion of the on–line BQA certification exam. It is highly recommended that this manual be used as a study guide with the on–line course.
3. Contacting the state BQA program director or any of the members of the Montana Beef Education Team (see inside front cover) for a copy of the Montana BQA manual or CD–based copy of the course. Those individuals can also provide a written exam can be taken and submitted by regular mail to the Montana BQA program office.

BQA certification is valid for three years from the time of completion of the exam. The certification and recertification fees have been waived through December 2008 by the BQA program committee to help producers address recent industry challenges.

Upon successful completion of the BQA course, producers will:

1. Be recognized as a BQA Certified Producer published on the Montana BQA website.
2. Will be supplied a BQA certification card and certification number.
3. Be able to meet the BQA requirements of the Montana Natural Beef Program.
4. Meet the requirements for other state and national production and marketing programs that require BQA certification.

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Copyright © 2006, Montana Beef Quality Assurance