A Farm and Ranch Producer Self-Evaluation

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "A Farm and Ranch Producer Self-Evaluation"

Philippa Dennis
6 years ago
Views:

1 Quality Assurance Cattle Handling Practices, Procedures, and Facilities Assessment A Farm and Ranch Producer Self-Evaluation Funded by the Cattlemen s Beef Board through the $1 per-head checkoff

2 Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) is a program to ensure that beef and dairy cattle are maintained in a manner which will result in a safe and wholesome beef product for the consumer. The BQA program, which had its beginnings in the early 1980 s, has been modified and adapted to meet the needs of a wide range of production and marketing circumstances. Specifi cally, BQA is designed to enhance carcass quality by preventing residues, pathogen contamination and carcass defects such as injection site blemishes and bruises. BQA programs are based on recommended national guidelines and scientific research. The goals of the BQA program will increase the competitive base for marketing cattle. This will enable beef producers to enhance their product and maximize marketability and consumer confi dence. This tool is intended to help you examine your operation with an emphasis on those things that are best management practices for Beef Quality Assurance. Use this as a tool for your own farm or ranch to examine those areas where quality improvements might be made. Section I FARM FACILITIES General upkeep and maintenance Excellent Good Poor Trash and debris disposal Building maintenance Cleanliness Storage areas First Aid kits available Phone numbers for local EMS, Hospital, Veterinarian posted Section II BIOSECURITY Introduction of new animals Yes Sometimes No Animals from known or clean sources Isolate new arrivals Test incoming animals Cattle transport services clean and reputable No on site cleaning of trucks or trailers from other premises Prevention practices for infectious disease Yes Sometimes No Restrict visitors Post instructions for visitors on signage Visitors register or are recognized upon entry to premises Provide clean boots, shoes, protective clothes, etc. to visitors Resistance of animals to diseases Yes Sometimes No Consult veterinarian for animal health program Reduce stress by immunization Provide adequate nutrition Provide comfortable housing Provide proper care and management Reduce exposure to disease Yes Sometimes No Isolate sick or diseased animals Remove dead animals and dispose of properly Control wild birds or predators by safe and effective means Provide a clean water source at each location Section III CATTLE CORRAL SELF-ASSESSMENT Corral Location Excellent Good Poor Accessibility in various weather conditions Proximity to various pasture sites Conditon of pasture fence in proximity to corral Drainage from corral is acceptable Proximity of corral to other dwellings (neighboring houses, schools, etc.) Receiving area situated to isolate new arrivals

3 Corral Location: Water Quality Yes N/A No Located 200 feet from any streams Wells in proximity are up-grade from corral Existence of Basic Section in a Working Facility Yes N/A No Holding pens Alley from pens to working area Crowding pen/tub Single-fi le working alley Restraining area/squeeze chute Loading Area Holding Pens Yes N/A No Adequate number of pens for sorting Have pens of suffi cient size so animal cannot get past you Holding pens are not too large Easy animal fl ow to and from working area Adequate number of gates Gates located in corners of pens Smaller pens for hospital pens with source of water Alley from Pens to Working Area Yes N/A No Easy animal fl ow to working area Holding pen gates equal to width of alley Alley 10 to 12 feet wide Crowding Pen or Tub Yes N/A No Able to handle 5-7 head of cattle Large end of the funnel feet wide Sweep gate is solid-sided Rough concrete or dry surface Single-file Working Alley Yes N/A No Working alleys long enough to meet your needs (approximately 20 feet long) If working cattle by yourself, able to hold at least three animals Back-stop devices located in working alley Widths of Working Alley - 22 to 26 inches for small- to medium-frame cattle - 24 to 28 inches for large-frame cows Sides of working alley are solid Overhead cross-bars so posts are not pushed out Squeeze chute area Yes N/A No Palpation gates exist so you can get behind animals Side(s) can open if animals go down Rough surface or sand/dirt placed on fl oor of squeeze chute Designed or confi gured to give injections in the neck Electricity or battey power available Moisture-proof electrical outlets Ground fault circuit interrupter protection for facility Roof or cover over area Loading Area Yes N/A No If loading chute needed, does not exceed 3 1/2 inches of rise per foot of length Surface is not slippery Cleats in loading chute are 1-2 inches high and 6-8 inches apart Loading chute is 30 inches wide for cow-calf operations Confi guration would allow for drive-through area for stock trailers Receiving area separate from working corrals

4 Section IV ADMINISTRATION Animal Health Products Yes Sometimes No Purchase only FDA approved products Record purchase and use of animal health products including lot numbers Store according to label instructions Maintain proper refrigeration temperatures Inventory label inserts kept together and maintained Record withdrawal times of all meds Before Administration of Products Yes Sometimes No Follow protocol with veterinarian consultation Read the Label Check expiration dates on products Ensure that needles, syringes are clean and well maintained Properly restrain animals for all procedures Keep records of individual or group treatment details Administering Animal Health Products Yes Sometimes No Give products in accordance with label directions Give all injections in neck region (IM-intramuscular or SQ-under the skin) When possible use SQ (subcutaneous) or PO (oral) products Administer no more than 10 ml per injection site Use separate syringes for different products Clean equipment after use or when changing products Treat sick cattle last and change needles after each injection Change needles frequently, use as few times as possible (no more than 10 calves) Record broken needles Treat broken needle in animal as an emergency situation Post Administration of Products Yes Sometimes No Return products to appropriate locations Update records and inventories Inspect equipment for damage Dispose of needles, syringes, and old or unwanted product properly Update individual animal records Implanting Yes Sometimes No Read the label Store products as required by label Proper restraint of animals during application Implant the same ear of all cattle and calves in treatment group Properly load equipment Clean ear and disinfect applicator after each treatment Implant cattle according to label directions Place the implant in the part of the ear described on label. Record the information on individual or group treatment records Bolusing Yes Sometimes No Read the label Select the correct size bolus and applicator for the size of animal to be treated Proper restraint of animals during process Ensure that animal swallows the bolus Record the information on individual or group treatment records Clean/disinfect bolus applicator after each treatment For section V, VI, and VII complete the section(s) that applies to your operation.

5 Section V STOCKER/BACKGROUNDER AND BACKGROUNDER Receiving Yes N/A No Obtain previous health history Source, date, description recorded Inspect and record conditions of incoming stock Handle cattle gently and humanely Processing Yes N/A No All animals individually identifi ed Record processing details Administer receiving health program per veterinary instructions Record individual or group treatment information Sick Animals Yes Sometimes No Check for sick animals daily Treatment of animals when found Segregated from other animals All treatments recorded for individual animals Sale/Shipping of Animals Yes N/A No Individual animal treatment records sent with animals to next destination Treatment withdrawal times known and met before harvest Records accompany cattle to next location Feed, processing records, other information offered to purchaser Record information on cattle sold/shipped Section VI FEEDLOT Receiving Yes N/A No Accompanied by previous health, feed, other records Source verifi cation of incoming cattle Record description of incoming cattle Number received verifi cation Observe and record individual or group health and condition Rest cattle for 24 hours before processing Handle cattle gently and humanely Processing Yes N/A No All animals individually identifi ed Individual/group weights taken Previous processing known Administer treatments by vet approved protocol Sort to appropriate location Record health or receiving information for individual or group Sick Animals Yes Sometimes No Check for sick animals daily Treatment of animals when found Segregated from other animals All treatments recorded for individual animal Sale/Shipping of Animals Yes Sometimes No Individual animal treatment records sent with animals for harvest Treatment withdrawal times known and met before harvest Records accompany feedlot cattle to next location Verify number sold/shipped matches order Record information on cattle sold/shipped records

6 Section VII COW/CALF Receiving Yes N/A No Obtain previous health history Source, date, description recorded Inspect and record conditions of incoming stock Handle cattle gently and humanely Processing Yes N/A No All animals individually identifi ed Trail of record of processing details Administer receiving health program on receipt Record individual or group treatment information Sick Animals Yes Sometimes No Check for sick animals daily Treatment of animals when found Segregated from other animals All treatments recorded for individual animals Sale/Shipping of Animals Yes N/A No Individual animal treatment records sent with animals for harvest Treatment withdrawal times known and met before harvest Records accompany cattle to next location Feed, processing records, other information offered to purchaser Record information on cattle sold/shipped Section VIII FEEDSTUFF RECEIVING, STORAGE, AND FEEDING Receiving Yes Sometimes No No ruminant derived protein including meat and bone products from ruminants Records of source, date received, description, amount, etc. Routine inspection of feeds received Remove or return contaminated feedstuffs Retain an ingredient label in records Storage/Feeding Yes Sometimes No Feeds stored in designated area All bins and silos labeled properly Facilities dry, clean, free from contaminants Inspect/service scales, mixers, bins, trucks, etc. used to handle feed Records of details of mixing, loading, handling, etc. of all feeds Record daily/weekly feeding records Purchased Feed Additives Yes Sometimes No Use only approved feed additives All additives inventoried by type and kind Additives label retained for records Feed Additive Storage Yes Sometimes No Storage of additives separate from all other feeds Separate medicated and non-medicated feed additives Use separate handling equipment for medicated additives Cleanse mixing, handling and feeding equipment after medicated feeds are used Feed Additive Use and Recordkeeping Yes Sometimes No Medicated feeds used in accordance with label directions Medicated feeds withdrawl times known and observed Record of dates, amounts, purpose, etc. of medicated feed additives used Record details on individual or group treatment records

7 Section IX PESTICIDES AND CHEMICALS Receiving Yes Sometimes No Purchase only approved pesticides and chemicals Maintain inventory of products and quantities Record dates received, product identifi cation, etc., consistently Storage Yes Sometimes No All pesticides and chemicals stored in designated secure area Storage areas are clean, dry, ventilated, locked, etc. Pesticides and feeds kept separated at all times Spills cleaned up immediately Use and Recordkeeping Yes Sometimes No Read the label Use products labeled for specifi c use Record required information of treatment animal ID, product, serial #, dose, etc. Maintain updated inventory records Record information on individual or group treatment records Keep fi eld, fertilizer and other chemical records Stored in separate, secure, well marked area Emergency contact information displayed Facilities are clean, dry, well maintained, ventilated, secured, etc. Store these products away from feedstuffs Spills cleaned up immediately Section X RECORDKEEPING Yes N/A No Keep all records for at least 3 years BQA, feedstuffs, pesticides Maintain Restricted Use Pesticides (RUP) records for three years Provide copies of all health records with animals when they leave premises Records kept in organized, accessible and consistent manner Do you have a Premise ID#? Section XI TRANSPORTATION Yes Sometimes No No sharp edges, broken sides or fl oors that may cause damage to animals being transported Floors, ramps provide sure footing with traction strips, slip protection or surfaces to prevent slipping Vehicle operated with care when transporting live animals Observe proper loading densities of transport area of truck, trailer or vehicle Vehicle/truck/trailers properly sized and marked for DOT regulations Prepared by: David Workman, Extension Agent, WVU Extension Service Jerry Yates, Manager, WVU Reymann Memorial Farm Ronnie Helmondollar, Extension Agent, WVU Extension Service Dr. Gary Cowman, BQA Coordinator (Retired) Dr. Stephen Boyles, Extension Beef Specialist, The Ohio State University Dr. Steve Paisley, Extension Beef Specialist, University of Wyoming Dr. John Hall, Extension Animal Scientist, Beef, Virginia Tech Dr. Phil Osborne, Livestock Marketing Specialist, WVU Extension

If the majority of your responses are YES answers in this

You are already doing things that will enhance beef

If you have most of your marks in the YES column or the

positively impact the quality of the beef produced on your

If you have marks in the NO column then there are things

outlined in this evaluation, please answer the following:

as needing attention regarding BQA on your farm or ranch?

Which one of these speciﬁc items will you address in the

Do you believe in the BQA concepts presented here?

What hinders you most with regard to making these changes?

to recognize areas on your farm or ranch that will improve

8 If the majority of your responses are YES answers in this self assessment Good Job! You are already doing things that will enhance beef quality. If you have most of your marks in the YES column or the middle column you are still doing things that will positively impact the quality of the beef produced on your farm or ranch. If you have marks in the NO column then there are things that you can do to improve the quality of the beef you produce. Regarding Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) recommendations outlined in this evaluation, please answer the following: Identify the three most obvious things you can recognize as needing attention regarding BQA on your farm or ranch? (Be speciﬁc.) a. b. c. Which one of these speciﬁc items will you address in the next 12 months? Which one in the next two years? Which one in the next three years? What will be the anticipated cost of your most signiﬁcant BQA change? What do you believe your beneﬁt will be from this change? Do you believe in the BQA concepts presented here? What do you need to make these changes or improvements? What hinders you most with regard to making these changes? It is hoped that this self assessment tool will enable you to recognize areas on your farm or ranch that will improve your BQA practices as you produce quality beef for the consumer. Name of Farm or Ranch Address Premise ID# Conducted by Date Links to other information: BQA State Contact

Florida Cow-Calf and Stocker Beef Safety and Quality Assurance Handbook: Food Safety Control Points 1

AN170 Florida Cow-Calf and Stocker Beef Safety and Quality Assurance Handbook: Food Safety Control Points 1 Todd A Thrift, Matt J. Hersom, and Max Irsik 2 1. This document is AN170, one of a series of