Ben Weinheimer, P.E. Vice President Texas Cattle Feeders Association

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1 Ben Weinheimer, P.E. Vice President Texas Cattle Feeders Association Presented at: American Meat Institute Foundation s Animal Care and Handling Conference March 30, 2007

2 History TCFA Beef Quality Assurance TCFA TX, NM, OK produce almost 7 million head per year BQA program started BSQA program (HACCP based) Supplement Certification added Cattle Care Guidelines added

3 BSQA Audit & Certification Process Step 1. Training session basic concepts and requirements Step 2. Annual Audit of program by TCFA at each feedyard Step 3. Annual Audit of program by 3 rd parties (veterinarian AND nutritionist) Step 4. Certification by TCFA TCFA logo and NCBA Brand Mark

4 Quality Control Points (QCPs) Feed Sources Grain Receiving Silage Receiving Roughage Receiving Feed Fat Feed Supplements & Non-Traditional Feed Sources Water Cattle Incoming Cattle Cattle Tagging Cattle Branding Implant/Re-implant Injections--Lesions Banding/Tipping Cattle Handling Pharmaceuticals Purchasing Receiving/Storage Handling

5 Critical Control Points (CCPs) Grain Receiving Mycotoxins Feed Medications--Residue Avoidance Supplement receiving--prohibited Protein Injections--Broken Needles Processing and Treatment--Residue Avoidance

6 Guidelines Producer Code of Cattle Care Training and Education Feed and Water Feeding Guidelines Disease Prevention Practices Identification Shelter and Housing

7 Guidelines Cattle Handling Sorting, Loading and Transporting Downer Cattle Euthanasia Emergency Procedures Feedlot Heat Stress Procedures Program Review/Audit

8 Feed and Water Adequate Water NRC Requirements for Beef Cattle Adequate Feed NRC Requirements for Beef Cattle Consulting Nutritionist Sudden ration changes Monitor digestive upsets, feces change Monitor laminitis

9 Disease Prevention and Health Care Consulting Veterinarian & Nutritionist Vaccination program Training in disease recognition Parasite control Castration recommended prior to 120 days or 500 lbs. Tipping of horns Bulling

10 Identification Hot iron branding required in some states Avoid branding when possible No jaw brands Wattling, ear splitting strongly discouraged

11 Shelter and Housing Cattle thrive in wide range of conditions Adequate feedyard space for comfort and environmental management Space allocation dependent on rainfall, evaporation, region & pen surface Mud accumulation on cattle monitored Dust management

12 Cattle Handling and Feedyard Audit Checklist TCFA Beef Safety and Quality Assurance Program SM Cattle Arrival and Treatment Programs: Cattle arrival and treatment programs are designed by a veterinarian? Yes No Cattle Handling: 1. Use of electric prods -- "E" 2. Cattle that fall when exiting the chute -- "F" 3. Cattle that jump or run when exiting the chute -- "J" 4. Cattle that vocalize after being restrained in the chute, but before procedures are performed -- "V" 5. Cattle observed being handled without issue -- " " Percentage Observed Maximum Acceptable Percentage Pass/Fail Electric prods: % 10 % P / F Cattle falling: % 2 % P / F Cattle jumping or running: % 25 % P / F Cattle vocalizing % 5 % P / F Non-Ambulatory (Downer) Cattle: Downer cattle are properly moved (i.e., loader, trailer, etc.)? Yes No Downer cattle unable to eat or drink are humanely euthanized within hours of initial onset? Yes No Cattle Unloading Sorting and Loading Facilities (mark with " "):

13 Audit Checklist Cattle Arrival & Treatment Programs: Designed by a veterinarian Cattle Handling (100 head): Electric prods... 10% Cattle falling 2% Cattle jumping/running 25% Cattle vocalizing... 5%

14 Audit Checklist (Continued) Non-ambulatory cattle: Cattle are properly moved Humanely euthanized within hours of initial onset

15 Audit Checklist (Continued) Unloading, Loading, Processing and Hospital facilities: Excellent Acceptable Not acceptable/fail

16 Audit Checklist (Continued) Cattle Comfort: Free access to feed, water, and space for freedom of movement

17 Audit Checklist (Continued) Water Troughs (10 inspected): Satisfactory 80% Unsatisfactory Feed Troughs (10 inspected): Satisfactory 80% Unsatisfactory

18 Audit Checklist (Continued) Cattle Mud Score (10 pens inspected): Satisfactory 80% Unsatisfactory

19 Summary of Audits ,000 head of cattle 60 audits per year 3 to 3 ½ hours per audit

20 Audit Results (Data from 2006) Arrival & treatment programs designed by a veterinarian % Non-ambulatory cattle properly moved % Non-ambulatory cattle properly euthanized %

21 Audit Results (Data from 2006) Electric Jumping/ Prod Falling Running Vocalizing Avg.% 11.3% 0.6% 13.9% 0.4% Percent of with zero

22 Audit Results (Data from 2006) Unloading Loading Processing Hospital Excellent 61% 61% 68% 56% Average 39% 39% 32% 44% Unacceptable 0% 0% 0% 0%

23 Audit Results (Data from 2006) Water Troughs Feed Bunks Satisfactory 98% 100% (686) Unsatisfactory 2% 0% (14) *700 water troughs/700 feed bunks evaluated in 2006

24 Audit Results (Data from 2006) Cattle Comfort Cattle Mud Score Satisfactory 100% 100% Unsatisfactory 0% 0%

25 Audit Results (Trends: ) Falling Downward (2.5% to 0.6%) Vocalizing Downward (1.1% to 0.4%) Jump/Run Variable (9.9% to 13.9%) Elect. Prod Level (11.4% to 11.3%) Things to consider: Hands-on training and re-training Increasing percentage of excellent facilities Periodically evaluate max acceptable targets Continue to work closely with veterinarians

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