W & J Carpenter Inc. Awarded 2022 BQA Marketer Award
The beef industry would not be able to market cattle without transporters. Therefore, BQA is honored to announce W & J Carpenter Inc., based in Arapahoe, Nebraska, as the 2022 BQA Marketer recipient.
This is the first year a transporter has received this honor. W & J Carpenter was founded in1991 by Ward and Jill Carpenter to fill a need for quality, reliable and responsible transportation of cattle. Today, the Carpenter team transports more than half a million cattle per year. The company prides itself on attention to detail in all aspects, from hiring knowledgeable employees to continued training for animal handling and transportation.
Ultimately, W & J Carpenter strives to provide safe transportation to cattle and enhance the public's perception of animal handling and quality. In 2007, Ward Carpenter knew the cattle had outgrown the equipment. "Producers had really been focusing on genetics, and the cattle went from a 1250-pound steer to now having the genetic potential for a 1500-pound steer,” he said.
Cattle have outgrown many commercial livestock trailers still on the road today, which creates significant animal welfare and product quality issues and a loss of financial return due to bruised muscle on the carcass trim. As genetics progressed and cattle were able to have a heavier finish, W & J Carpenter knew they needed to create equipment that adequately supported the cattle they were hauling. “You have to adapt, and running trailers they designed 50 years ago was not working, so you have to evolve and change,” Colby Carpenter said.
W & J Carpenter led the charge and changed the design of their commercial trailers to ensure animal welfare and product quality. One of their first trailer alterations was to move the top deck to provide more cattle clearance. Second, they relocated the ramp to the top deck from underneath the decking to be connected to the side of the trailer as a fold-down ramp. This change provides animals going into the trailer's belly with additional clearance. Finally, they lengthened the steps for the cattle going into the belly. This extension of the basket chute eliminates cattle jumping in the belly which could lead to bruising or cattle piling up when entering or exiting.
W & J Carpenter also requires all employees to be Beef Quality Assurance Transportation (BQAT) certified before handling cattle. The company provides load-out sheets to employees for any load of cattle the company handles. This system helps to keep an accurate account of what drivers were present with the load, individual load information and BQAT certification number. W & J Carpenter also hopes to further educate and inspire other haulers to learn about the benefits of BQAT. They host annual in-person animal handling safety training, not only for their employees but other trucking companies who want to improve their practices.
Ultimately, W & J Carpenter hopes to enhance the public’s perception of the beef industry and how cattle are transported. “As livestock haulers, we are moving billboards for the beef industry, and that’s something we take pride in,” Colby said. “We want people to know that we are out there to take care of the cattle.”
The BQA Marketer Award is funded in part by the Beef Checkoff with additional support from Cargill. For more information on W & J Carpenter Inc. and other 2022 BQA Award winners, visit www.bqa.org/about/bqa-awards.
About Beef Quality Assurance
Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) is a nationally coordinated, state implemented program funded by the Beef Checkoff that provides U.S. beef producers guidelines and certification drawn from common sense husbandry techniques and accepted scientific knowledge on how to raise cattle under optimum management and environmental conditions. BQA reflects a positive public image and instills consumer confidence in the beef industry. When producers implement the best management practices of a BQA program, they assure their cattle are the best they can be.
