Beef Quality Assurance

From Mongolia to Montana: Bridging the Access Gap for the World’s Grazers

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 13:34:29 GMT

From the high plains of Mongolia to the Sandhills of Nebraska, the long-term viability of our grazing lands depends on more than just rain and grass; it requires a robust network of knowledge, financial tools and professional services that empower land stewards to succeed in an increasingly complex global market.

The 2026 March International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP) theme — Livelihoods and Economics — emphasizes an essential truth: healthy ecosystems and well-managed grazing rely not only on land and animals, but also on the services and knowledge that enable land stewards to succeed. Ensuring access to these resources is vital for resilient pastoral and ranching communities around the world.

A Global Perspective: The Geography of Access

Throughout pastoral regions, such as Mongolia, Kenya and Argentina, livestock producers work in environments where geography, infrastructure and policy shape their access to vital services. Often, and especially in remote regions, access is limited for services such as mobile veterinary units, credit programs and microloans, and other education programs designed for their pastoral communities.

Across landscapes and governance systems, the pattern is clear — thriving grazing operations rely on support and resources being made available to producers.

While specific needs vary by region, the challenge of access is consistent. Livestock producers everywhere depend on support systems that extend beyond pasture boundaries. Barriers often arise from challenges in accessing services or navigating programs, and these gaps can limit productivity, opportunity and the long-term viability of grazing operations.

Strengthening Access in the U.S.

In the U.S., producers face challenges that can limit the adoption of new tools and technologies, including:

Limited broadband in rural areas making it difficult to use digital solutions.
Financial resources, particularly for new and beginning ranchers seeking to invest in equipment or technology.
Navigating multiple technical and regulatory programs, which sometimes slows the ability to take full advantage of available resources.

Addressing these challenges through improved connectivity, targeted financial support and streamlined access to educational programs is a necessary focus.

Educational and Support Programs for Producers

Fortunately, a variety of programs in the U.S. provide producers with resources and guidance to improve their operations and maintain long-term economic stability. The best part? Most are free.

Some of these programs include the following:

Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) : Offers science-based training on cattle care and handling, including animal health, medication use, injection site protocols and transportation practices. BQA certification promotes responsible livestock management while building consumer confidence.
The Noble Research Institute workshops : Provide guidance on grazing and soil health, with an emphasis on improving ranch management. Some of the available workshops include “Noble Grazing Essentials” and “MarketSMART Ranching.”
U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (USRSB) : Learning modules provide practical guidance on grazing management and sustainable practices to help producers improve beef production. These resources help producers connect sustainability concepts to everyday operations. Visit their online learning center to review their resources, such as the “Grazing Management Plan Development Module” and the “Producer Sustainability Toolkit.”
Annie’s Project : Helps women in agriculture develop skills in managing their operations and planning for business success. The project supports women in agriculture by building skills and fostering connections within the community.
Ranching for Profit : One of North America’s longest-running ranch management schools that focuses on economic and ecological performance. It helps producers analyze finances and make enterprise decisions while linking ecological stewardship with business planning for long-term sustainability.

Collectively, these programs foster an environment for learning and support throughout the U.S. grazing community — and they barely scratch the surface of available programs.

Building Access Together

Strengthening access relies on producers and educators to work together with industry and community partners. For producers in the U.S., awareness of these programs can be just as hindering as receiving access to them.

Access-building requires attention to both technical and social aspects and depends on developing trust and fostering continuous learning.

Looking Ahead

The March IYRP theme reminds us globally that grazing systems depend on both the land and the networks supporting those who manage it. For U.S. ranchers, expanding awareness of available programs ensures producers have the knowledge, tools and connections to carry their legacies forward.

Access, much like the land itself, is fundamental, and advancing it remains a shared responsibility across the grazing landscape and within the beef community.

— Provided by the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (USRSB) in recognition of the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP).

Your Next Reads:

From Pasture to Plate: Sysco Highlights the Value of Beef Quality Assurance

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 13:36:08 GMT

The best beef is raised the right way. This message was reinforced by remarks from Joe Don Eilers, Sysco vice president of merchandising, during the Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Producer Forum, which was part of CattleCon 2026.

Representing one of the nation’s largest food service distributors, Eilers shares how best practices in cattle care and beef production influence beef product, ultimately reaching the plates of restaurants and kitchen tables of consumers.

“At the end of the day, quality beef is a safe, wholesome product for our participants to use,” Eilers says, adding the ultimate goal is delivering a mouth-watering steak that keeps customers coming back for more.

Industry collaboration is key to delivering this eating experience, and programs like BQA help ensure consistency from pasture to plate. For decades, BQA has provided science-based guidelines and education to help family farmers and ranchers improve cattle care, product quality and consumer confidence.

“We believe in the value that the BQA program has brought to the industry for decades,” Eilers says. “That mission to bring knowledge about best practices and innovations to producers across the industry has resulted in a better product that we’re able to purchase and ultimately serve to consumers.”

The commitment to cattle care and continuous improvement is also reflected in the Raised with Respect program, a partnership between Certified Angus Beef and Sysco, now in its third year. The initiative helps expand awareness of BQA principles while supporting educational resources for ranchers and additional collaboration across universities, extension systems and industry partners.

“This campaign is really about bringing another level of awareness to the work BQA has done over the years,” Eilers says, “and creating more opportunities to communicate what can be improved in beef production.”

The commitment to advancing best practices and helping to ensure beef demand recently earned Sysco national recognition — National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) named the company the 2026 BQA Marketer of the Year during CattleCon. This award highlights leaders who go above and beyond to promote BQA and support responsible cattle care across the beef industry.

“As a primary producer-facing program, BQA has been providing guidelines and resources to help cattlemen improve their cattle and resulting beef for decades,” says Josh White, NCBA senior executive director of producer education and sustainability. “It’s exciting to see this work done on farms and ranches across the country and also lends value for how a large beef seller, like Sysco, tells the beef production story.”

For Eilers, those efforts also help build trust with consumers who want greater transparency about how their food is raised.

“Customers and consumers today want more and more information about the products they’re buying and eating,” he says. “The BQA program really helps us talk about best practices around animal husbandry and environmental stewardship, and that builds confidence in the beef producers raise.”

Why Are BBs Found in Beef? A Hidden Problem Costing the Industry Millions

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 20:13:59 GMT

According to the latest National Beef Quality Audit (NBQA), 100% of U.S. processing plants now report challenges with foreign materials, specifically BBs and metal shot embedded deep in muscle tissue. This hidden threat causes a 1% loss in total ground beef production annually, effectively robbing 89% of American consumers of one serving of beef per year.

Jessica Lancaster, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) senior director of product quality and safety research, warns because these materials are classified as regulatory adulterants, a single BB can lead to the condemnation of thousands of pounds of beef.

“That’s really challenging, because that’s not something we see on the surface of a carcass,” Lancaster explains. “Often that’s getting embedded deep into the muscle and sometimes even to the bone.”

She summarizes the issue is both widespread and expensive — and it starts long before cattle reach the packing plant. It’s present across the country, in both the fed beef supply and the cull cow and bull plants.

(Photos: West Texas A&M University, USDA)

BBs aren’t the only problem. Lancaster has received documentation of numerous incidences when remote drug delivery devices (darts) were lodged in places like lungs and deep muscles. Critically, these issues originate in the pre-harvest segment — the production side that producers can control — but often aren’t discovered until post-harvest, during further processing.

What Happens When a BB is Found in Ground Beef?

The consequences reach far beyond a single affected carcass. When trimmings from multiple animals are combined into combos for ground beef, foreign materials often go unnoticed until it’s too late.

“The challenge is we don’t find that product until it hits the grinder blade,” Lancaster says. “And at that point there is thousands of pounds that are then impacted, and there’s no way to know if there was one BB or 40 BBs in that load.”

Because there is no practical way to isolate only the contaminated portion, entire lots must be condemned. That means even producers who have done everything right can see products from their cattle included in a load that ends up discarded because of a few bad producers somewhere upstream.

“It’s not only the cattle who are contaminated with the foreign material that are impacted,” Lancaster stresses, “All of our producers who are doing the right thing also are facing loss of product because of the bad actors.”

How Much Money Does the Beef Industry Lose to Foreign Materials?

The economic impact is substantial. Lancaster’s team estimates that about 1% of ground beef is lost due to foreign material contamination. On the consumer side, that translates into over 89% of U.S. consumers getting one less serving of beef per year. In a market environment where beef demand is tight and every pound matters, those lost servings add up quickly.

“Product from one animal could tank product from eight animals,” Lancaster explains. “When we’re making a batch of that, we’re impacting 51 head of cattle. And every time an event happens, it costs the industry $75,000, and in most facilities, we’re seeing 140 events of this per year at each facility.”

Add that up across the industry and the bill comes to roughly $476 million annually.

Is Foreign Material in Beef a New Issue?

Beyond the economic cost, foreign materials in beef are a regulatory and food safety concern.

While finding foreign materials in beef is not a new challenge — it was first noted in the early ’90s — changing regulations have redefined foreign objects to be adulterants regardless of physical characteristics.

“Foreign material is an adulterant today,” Lancaster emphasizes. “Anytime we see that, there’s regulatory action that takes place. Any objects that are not inherent to the animal are considered foreign material and we should never have foreign material in our animals as they’re entering the processing facility.”

In other words, if BBs or other foreign objects are present, the product is no longer acceptable for the food supply.

Is Foreign Material in Beef an Animal Welfare Issue?

There is also an animal welfare dimension. For a BB or metal shot to end up lodged deep within tissue, it must be propelled there with significant force. Lancaster points out this is not just a product quality issue — it raises serious questions about how and why animals are being exposed to these projectiles in the first place.

What is the Industry Doing About It?

While all modern plants use metal detectors and other detection systems, they have physical and technological limits.

“If we think about these BBs, they’re so small,” Lancaster summarizes.

Just as airport detectors can miss very small items, plant systems may not reliably catch tiny shot deeply embedded in muscle or near bone.

Lancaster says she sees a two-pronged path forward: education and technology.

First, there’s a clear need for producer education. Many in the production segment still believe foreign objects are primarily a plant problem. Lancaster’s data tells a different story, showing a significant share of contamination originating on-farm or in the field. Education efforts aim to change behaviors like moving cattle with shotguns and to raise awareness of how even small lapses can snowball into costly food safety and economic events downstream.

Second, NCBA, as a contractor to the beef checkoff, and its research partners are exploring new detection and tracing tools. One major research direction is investigating whether foreign objects can be detected in live animals or more effectively at harvest and then traced back to their source. If successful, this could support enforcement mechanisms and targeted interventions, discourage risky practices and prevent adulterated animals from entering the supply chain unnoticed.

The goal is to scan animals as they move through chutes or other handling systems, identifying BBs or metal fragments before they enter the processing chain. She explains this could mean using imaging or scanning technologies to flag animals that pose a risk, allowing them to be diverted or more closely evaluated before they are combined into large ground beef lots.

Lancaster also stresses the industry can’t treat foreign materials as a side issue. For years, food safety conversations have centered primarily on biological hazards such as bacteria and pathogens. Those remain critical priorities, but today, foreign materials carry similar weight.

“I think we not only have to think about those biological hazards we always talk about with food safety,” she says, “but as we’ve seen foreign material become an adulterant, we truly have to take some actions to help prevent this impacting our beef demand.”

Ultimately, solving the foreign material challenge will require a combination of producer responsibility, better on-farm and field practices, new detection technologies and strong communication across the supply chain. By tackling the issue where it starts — and not just where it’s discovered — the industry can protect animal welfare, reduce costly product losses and ensure more safe, high‑quality beef makes it to consumers’ tables.

Your Next Read:
Hidden Hazards: Now is the Time to Rethink Gun Use in Cattle Handling

Hidden Hazards: Now is the Time to Rethink Gun Use in Cattle Handling

Tue, 13 May 2025 14:17:49 GMT

With the smallest cattle herd size on record, the impact of every pound of beef and every head lost due to foreign material contamination is even more significant today than it has ever been.

Pat Mies, Tyson Fresh Meats vice president food safety and quality assurance and beef industry food safety council chair, shares alarming math regarding foreign material contamination.

There is an economic loss due to cattle contaminated with foreign materials. Mies explains regulatory rules consider any foreign material, regardless of size, to be an adulterant and unfit for human consumption.

There’s more than 50 griding/further processing facilities across the U.S.

(NCBA)

The issue is industry-wide and not just state or region specific. Processors from across the U.S. have frequently reported challenges with foreign material in beef cattle.

“It’s not a Texas issue or New Mexico issue or a South Dakota issue,” Mies says. “It’s an entire U.S. issue.”

Trey Patterson, Padlock Ranch president and CEO, says “Food safety in our industry is non-negotiable; it’s now an expectation.”

(Schwartz, West Texas A&M)

Patterson says the 2022 National Beef Quality Audit revealed a significant problem: 100% of non-fed plants reported finding foreign objects in beef, with half experiencing customer complaints about items like shotgun pellets. And in the audit, 50% of fed plants are having the same issue.

Trent Schwartz, West Texas A&M University assistant professor, explains, “This is not a fed versus non-fed issue. This is all cattle being sold for meat consumption, and we believe highly that all of this is happening in the production phase, whether it be cattle gathering techniques or treating cattle.”

Mies acknowledges plants have access to resources and technology to catch foreign material but it is not 100% accurate.

“We have metal detectors, defect eliminators, X-ray systems and vision systems,” he admits. “We’re using artificial intelligence to train these systems to do a better job, to get rid of these foreign objects. And then we also have the human element — people watching product and pulling product that may have foreign objects in it. We have all these things in our plants, yet we still have problems. It’s not 100% foolproof. It’s not 100% fail-safe.”

Economic Impacts

Patrick Linnell, CattleFax analyst, provided an economic perspective regarding cull cows and the financial loss due to foreign material contamination.

“Cull cows is one area in particular where there’s an especially strong connection between animal welfare and husbandry and value to the producer,” Linnell says.

With cow inventory at its lowest since the 1950s, and as the beef and dairy industries try to stabilize and rebuild, Linnell says cull cow supplies will remain tight for the foreseeable future. Cull cows on average represent 20% of total marketing and management for an individual operation and the industry as a whole, he adds.

“The consumer wants all the beef through the system that we can provide them,” Linnell says. “That’s why making sure we don’t have to dispose of this high-value product because of foreign material contamination is important.”

The economic and reputational implications of foreign contamination are severe. With current beef prices, each contaminated animal represents a significant financial loss. Moreover, these incidents can damage domestic as well as international market confidence.

Linnell says that 50% of U.S. beef consumption is in the form of ground beef.

“If you do the simple math and look at what ground beef costs today in retail stores, it’s on average, about $5 per lb. across the U.S. That is a lot of money that we’re pulling out of the system because people decided to use a shotgun and bird shot to move stubborn cattle,” Mies says.

Starts With the Live Animal

Schwartz is the lead researcher working on a checkoff-funded study in partnership with NCBA regarding foreign material detection techniques in live animals before the animal enters the processing facility.

He says a wide range of foreign objects have been found in live animals, with metal shot being the most common. He points out that most of the foreign material found relates back to metal objects coming from the live side, not something that’s added to the product post-harvest.

His team is cataloging pictures and materials received from plants and individuals for future use and educational purposes. The primary source of these foreign objects appears to be cattle handling practices.

“Cattle get in rough country and won’t come out,” he says. “The first instinct is to use a shotgun or rat shot, and to move those cattle with some metal shot.”

Hunters are another concern for the shot residue.

“We don’t feel like this is a hunting issue,” he says. “This is direct contact, point-blank type issue. Criminal mischief has also been brought up. Criminal mischief or criminal acts is certainly a possibility.”

He also says unintended exposure or living conditions can lead to the foreign material such as cattle ingesting wire and it protrudes through the stomach and into the skirt or other organs.

Darts are also becoming an increasing concern, with some found deeply embedded in muscle tissue and even lungs.

“We need to start looking at the production side and how we can limit some of these items that are making their way into the plant,” Schwartz summarizes.

His ongoing research project is focusing on developing methods to detect objects in live animals under the hide using ultrasound, X-ray and metal detection techniques.

“The goal of the research is to determine efficacy. Does it work?” Schwartz explains. This work will allow for technology advancements to potentially identify foreign material throughout the supply chain in the live animal.

How You Can Help

Patterson suggests a voluntary, industry-wide effort to address the problem before it reaches processing facilities.

“I need your help,” Mies says in a plea to all beef producers. “I need you to talk to your friends, your family, your neighbors, anybody that you can about moving cattle with shotguns, and that it should never happen in our industry.”

To learn more about foreign materials found during beef processing watch this NCBA webinar:

Your Next Read: Streamline Spring Cattle Processing with These 3 Stress-Reducing Steps

Spring Cattle Processing Tips to Enhance Herd Health and Diminish Stress

Fri, 09 May 2025 14:14:12 GMT

Pastures are turning green, which means it’s time to work cows and calves. Achieving the best results with vaccines requires using the correct syringes and needles, good management practices and functional facilities. It’s also important to involve your veterinarian.

A vaccine is used to reduce the risk of disease, but giving an injection does not completely prevent disease nor does it mean immediate protection. Most products will shorten the duration and severity of disease, but each immune system reacts differently, says Lindsay Waechter-Mead, DVM and Nebraska Extension beef educator.

“Once an animal receives the product, it may take up to one month for the immune system to create antibodies, which will be activated during the next disease challenge,” she explains. “Therefore, it is best to anticipate when and what diseases are a threat and administer a vaccine protocol one month prior.”

Before running the first cow through the chute, check out these reminders on maintaining equipment, reading the product label, handling vaccines, injection sites and keeping records.

Needle and Syringe Selection

One key to an effective vaccination strategy is selecting the proper needles and syringes.

“When selecting a needle, determine the appropriate route of administration, whether it is subcutaneous (SQ) or intramuscular (IM), from reading the product label,” says Nick Wagner, DVM and professional services veterinarian for Neogen. “Next, determine the weight of the animal, not only for proper dosage, but also for selection of the appropriate needle.”

The route of administration determines the length of the needle, while the size of the animal determines the gauge or diameter of the needle.

The type of syringe and proper care and use matters too.

“If you follow these best practices , along with selecting a needle of the proper gauge and length, you will ensure safe and effective injections,” Wagner says.

Cattle-Handling Tips

Reducing stress during livestock handling can increase productivity, maintain or improve meat quality, reduce sickness and enhance animal welfare.

“While temperament in cattle is moderately heritable, environment does play a role and even cattle that are less docile will benefit from low-stress handling methods,” says Beth McIlquham, University of Wisconsin-Madison regional livestock educator. “A good handler can help reduce fear in an animal, which is the primary driver of negative consequences associated with handling stress.”

These three steps — don’t use an electric prod, understand cattle’s natural instincts and work with cattle’s natural flight zone — can reduce stress during spring processing.

Don’t Forget the Handling Facilities

In addition to handling techniques, a well-maintained pen and chute system can help reduce stress on the cattle and the people. Preventative maintenance is key to keeping facilities in good working order and reduce the likelihood of injuries.

“Before processing, start with basic preventative maintenance, such as making sure the gear teeth are in order, that the movable points are well oiled,” says K-State veterinarian Brian Lubbers.
Take the time to walk through the system just as cattle will on processing day.

“Before you start moving cattle through the system, walk through the alleyways to see if there is anything protruding that will cause the cattle to get injured or balk as they are being pushed ahead,” adds K-State veterinarian Brad White.

If you’re looking to build or revamp working facilities, check out these recommendations as well as a comparison of sweep tubs and bud boxes.

Your Next Read: More Than Annoyance: Flies Can Impact Health and Profits

Functional Facilities Reduce Stress and Boost Efficiency

Fri, 02 May 2025 11:19:39 GMT

As cattle producers prepare for working cows and calves before grass turnout, it’s important to evaluate facilities and make sure they are in working order before running the first cow in the chute.

A well-maintained pen and chute system is key to making processing day stress free — on both the cattle and the people. Kansas State University Beef Cattle Institute experts, along with K-State extension veterinarian A.J. Tarpoff, shared their cattle working facility recommendations during a recent “ Cattle Chat ” podcast.

Preventative maintenance is key to keeping working facilities in good working order and reduce the likelihood of injuries to people or cattle.

“Before processing, start with basic preventative maintenance, such as making sure the gear teeth are in order, that the movable points are well oiled,” says K-State veterinarian Brian Lubbers.

Take the time to walk through the system just as cattle will on processing day.

“Before you start moving cattle through the system, walk through the alleyways to see if there is anything protruding that will cause the cattle to get injured or balk as they are being pushed ahead,” says K-State veterinarian Brad White.

Considering a new set up?

Tarpoff encourages producers looking to build or revamp working facilities to consider investing in what they use regularly. He also reminded producers to think about how they can get multiple functions out of one system.

“Cow-calf operators are going to be using their system for a lot of different things,” Tarpoff says. “A simple, well-built straight alley with functional sorting gates that can be used for sorting, loading and processing is one of the best investments producers can make for their cow-calf operation. It’s easy to invest in something you regularly use.”

K-State beef cattle nutritionist Phillip Lancaster says it is important to build a facility with labor force in mind because sometimes people are moving cattle alone.

“Keep it simple. You don’t need to build an elaborate facility but instead design a system that will work for the labor you have available,” Lancaster explains.

Make sure facilities are set up in a way that works best for the size of the cattle that are being handled.

“Think about what is the right size for the herd — how many cows will I need to move, can I change the width easily for cows versus calves? These are questions producers should be thinking through,” says K-State veterinarian Bob Larson.

The function of the crowding area, often called a “tub,” is to funnel cattle into alleyway on the way to the squeeze chute or loadout. The crowding area must be designed and located so cattle can be easily moved into this area from a common sorting alley that is fed by holding pens. There are two commonly used systems. Mark Johnson, Oklahoma State University beef cattle breeding specialist, in a recent release compared the two systems.

(Whit Hibbard)

Sweep tub

The circular crowding area, with totally enclosed sides and crowding gate, is effective because the only escape route visible to the animal is through the alleyway leading to the squeeze chute or loadout. To further encourage cattle to exit crowding area, the solid crowding gate is intermittently moved toward a closed position. This effectively restricts the cattle to a successively smaller area as they move into the alleyway.

A roughened concrete floor is desirable to provide an all-weather surface and for ease in cleaning. This design of cattle working facilities is to use circular crowding areas and working chutes. The circular designs take advantage of cattle’s tendency to circle and crowd toward the outside of a curved passage.

The curved crowding area and working chute encourages cattle to move in a continuous flow toward the squeeze chute. Solid enclosures shield the animals’ vision from distractions outside the working area while focusing their attention on moving out of the crowding tub. When a balky animal needs to be prodded, it is only a short walk from the squeeze chute to any location along the curved working alleyway.

“Cattle can normally be worked in less time with a curved alleyway than with a straight one,” Johnson says.

The crowding alley also should be curved with totally enclosed sides.

“Cattle move more freely because they cannot view the cattlemen or squeeze chute until they approach the palpation cage or rear gate of the squeeze chute,” he adds. “Sloping sides in the working alleyway confine the animal’s feet and legs to a narrow path, which in turn, reduces balking.”

Sloping sides also reduce the capability of an animal to turn around in the crowding alley. Sloping sides are well matched to cow-calf operations because varied sizes of cattle can be worked efficiently in the same system. Recommended width for the bottom of the alleyway is 16 inches with the top at 28 inches. Emergency release panels can be constructed as movable crowding alley side panels that can be opened.

Johnson says an important consideration is that the cattle handler does not need to be inside the sweep tub. The handler works from the outside of the tub and alleyway while processing the cattle.

Naive calves effortlessly flow around the handler and up the chute because the BudBox makes our idea the animals’ idea.

(Whit Hibbard)

Bud Box

The same concepts regarding the alleyway leading to the squeeze chute or loadout still apply. The primary difference is the way in which cattle are coaxed into the alleyway. The Bud Box is a rectangular pen in which the alleyway leading to the chute is placed at a right angle at the point of entry. The design is simple and with proper handling techniques can be highly effective.

Cattle are brought into the box, and the position of the handler along the opposite side of the box stimulates cattle to move by the handler and into the alleyway. The gate that is closed behind the cattle as they moved past the alley forms the box.

“The Bud Box requires a basic understanding of cattle handling principles and may require additional training for inexperienced producers,” Johnson says “The effectiveness of the design and the manner in which cattle flow into the alley is the result of the cattle handling skills and the attitude of the handler. Proper use of the box requires the cattle handler to be inside the box with the cattle.”

The Bud Box contrasts the large, circular, sweep systems. The absence of large, fabricated bends makes it easier to construct. The box typically has open sides and does not require crowding gates, which reduces the material cost and footprint of the facility. A typical box is 12 feet wide and 20 feet long. It is closed on one end with a gate at the other end. A Bud Box can be constructed and deconstructed from portable panels.

“The decision of incorporating a sweep tub or bud box into your cattle working system should be based on considering a number of factors determining what is the best fit for your budget and type of operation,” Johnson summarizes. “There are numerous YouTube videos available on the web showing examples of working cattle through, and the construction of, both sweep tubs and Bud Boxes.”

Your Next Read: Streamline Spring Cattle Processing with These 3 Stress-Reducing Steps

Streamline Spring Cattle Processing with These 3 Stress-Reducing Steps

Thu, 01 May 2025 11:23:00 GMT

Reducing stress during livestock handling can increase productivity, maintain or improve meat quality, reduce sickness and enhance animal welfare. Implementing low-stress handling techniques when working with cattle is important to reducing stress.

As producers prepare for spring processing, Beth McIlquham, University of Wisconsin-Madison regional livestock educator, encourages producers to consider these low-stress handling strategies.

“While temperament in cattle is moderately heritable, environment does play a role and even cattle that are less docile will benefit from low-stress handling methods,” Mcllquham says. “A good handler can help reduce fear in an animal, which is the primary driver of negative consequences associated with handling stress.”

Even if the animal is not experiencing any pain, fear can still cause physical responses in the body, such as high cortisol levels. These responses can ultimately lead to increased susceptibility to illness, lower meat quality and overall lower performance.

Mcllquham says one negative handling experiences can affect future handling situations.

Identifying stress through body language
Cattle in a state of fear or under stress can be identified through their body language. Obvious signs of fear in cattle are running, kicking, vocalizing and aggressive behaviors toward handlers. Subtle signs of fear are heavy breathing and showing the whites of their eyes. Stressed cattle can cause serious injury to themselves and humans. Relaxed cattle are quiet and walk or trot calmly. When low-stress handling techniques are used, the risk of injury is lowered.

“Besides increasing performance and lowering sickness and injury rates, consumers have indicated that they care that their food is humanely raised,” McIlquham explains. “Implementing low-stress handling is a great place to start and comes with many other benefits. Although it may sound like a daunting task, utilizing low-stress handling techniques can be done in smaller steps.”

Step 1: Put away the electric prod
“Our first step is to put away the electric prod,” she says. “To decrease use, place electric prods away from where you’re handling cattle but still be accessible in an emergency. This way, instead of instinctively reaching for it, the inconvenience of going to grab it can decrease electric prod use.”

Step 2: Understand cattle’s natural instincts
“We should utilize these instincts to work for us instead of against us,” she says. “The fact that cattle are prey animals drives a lot of their behaviors.”

Cattle are herd animals and like to be in groups. When moving them, keeping cattle in small groups (two to five head) can help keep them calmer and easier to handle. Additionally, cattle want to see you. Humans are naturally predators, and because cattle are prey animals, their instinct is to be able to keep handlers in sight.

Cattle want to go toward lighted areas and will resist going into darker areas. It is easier to see any potential threats in areas that are light. Keep in mind shadows can reduce cattle flow through an area.

Step 3: Study and use cattle’s natural flight zone
Good handlers study and use cattle’s flight zone and point of balance, McIlquham explains.

Two concepts are illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Flight Zone and Point of Balance

(Beef Quality Assurance Cattle Care & Handling Guides)

Walking into the flight zone makes the animal move away from the handler. Stepping out of the flight zone will take pressure off and remove the animal’s desire to continue to move away. Note that the size of flight zones varies between animals. The point of balance allows handlers to move the animal forward or backward. Stepping into the flight zone in front of the point of balance will make the animal move backward. Stepping into the flight zone behind the point of balance will drive the animal forward.

Keep in mind cattle have a blind spot directly behind them. If you approach the animal in the blind spot, they could get spooked. Walking in a zigzag pattern behind cattle helps let them know you are there.

Extra tip: Taking breaks
Calm cattle are easier to move than stressed cattle. Fearful cattle are more reactive, more easily injured, and more likely to engage in aggressive behaviors. If a handling situation does get intense, take a little break and release pressure on the cattle.

“Even taking a brief break can help both the animal and handler calm down and come back to the situation in a more positive light,” Mcllquham summarizes.

Your next read: Effective Needle and Syringe Strategies to Ensure Spring Processing Success

Trump Plans to Ease Trade Tensions by Reducing Tariffs On Chinese Goods

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 21:38:15 GMT

Comments President Donald Trump made at a White House press briefing on Tuesday have signaled the U.S. trade war with China is about to de-escalate.

The 145% import tax rate imposed on Chinese goods will “come down substantially, but it won’t be a zero,” Trump said.

“I don’t know if we can call what President Trump did on China a U-turn, but some people are calling it that,” AgriTalk Host Chip Flory said on Wednesday. He asked guests what their level of support is for what the Trump administration is doing on trade currently.

“I think he’s doing what needed to be done,” said Scott McGregor a cattleman and grain producer from northeast Iowa, near Nashua.

McGregor said he wants to see a level playing field for the U.S. in its trade efforts and negotiations with China.

“China needs to be a trade partner, not just a trading destination. That’s a lot of it,” McGregor said. Get the complete AgriTalk discussion here .

Financial Losses In The U.S. Beef Industry

Beef producers are reported to be “losing up to $165 per head on cattle currently, due to the absence of Chinese competition for high-value cuts like short rib and chuck. That’s a $4 billion annual blow to the U.S. beef sector…,” reported The Scottish Farmer last week.

McGregor said he would like to see the U.S. open up new markets for its beef and grain products to increase opportunities and minimize potential risks from future tariffs.

“China is not our only destination for our ag products, right? We need to expand our horizons as much as we can,” McGregor said.

When U.S. cattlemen start talking about market opportunities, Flory said they often turn their focus on Australia. The U.S. imports about $3-billion worth of beef from Australia a year.

“Australia doesn’t import any beef from the U.S., and there’s cattlemen here that would like to see that fixed,” Flory said. “But the issue is, there’s only, what, 30 million people in Australia?”

Furthermore, Australia has a lot of beef to export that the U.S. needs for use in hamburger, McGregor said.

“I know people don’t want us to import it, but Nellie bar the door if we couldn’t import beef from Australia for grinding,” he said. “Our demand is so huge here in the United States that we have got to import it. It has to meet all the specs that our beef does for importation, and it isn’t like we’re just willy-nilly importing some beef. We need it bad. And yes, it’d be great if they took some of our beef, but they don’t have the population.”

China has turned its attention and dollars to accessing more Australian beef, as well. According to Meat and Livestock Australia, Australian grain-fed beef exports to China surged almost 40% in February and March year-on-year, according to The Scottish Farmer article.

“Australian beef finds itself in a rare sweet spot – a prime cut of opportunity in a world of lean margins,” the article said.

Your next read: CAB Insider: Market Update April 23

Are You Wasting Money on Vaccines? Proper Protocols Explained

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 15:16:35 GMT

Herd health and vaccination protocols are critical to the success of ranches across the country. But there are common handling and usage mistakes that can lead to vaccines being less effective or completely ineffective.

Blane Lowe, DVM, has built a career and lifestyle around veterinary medicine, research and animal health. He joined the Casual Cattle Conversations podcast to share tips and strategies to help ranchers see a return on investment from their vaccine protocol.

“The vaccination program is a fairly small cost in relation to all the other inputs and costs associated with our cows and preventing disease is going to help them perform,” Lowe says.

Even at a low cost it is important vaccines are handled appropriately.

“The most expensive vaccine you’ll find is one that doesn’t work,” he adds. “Simple errors in handling vaccines can contribute to these expensive outcomes.”

The first tip Dr. Lowe shares is to read the label.

“Labels are being updated continuously, so if you read a label two years ago for a product something might have changed for how to best use it today,” says Lowe.

Additionally, avoid shortcuts such as mixing multiple vaccines together.

“If you can combine those products, the companies will do that which they certainly have, in the past, with things like viral BRD vaccines and manhemia,” Lowe says.

How vaccines are stored and used on working days also impacts vaccine efficacy. Specifically with modified-live vaccines, how you mix the solution matters.

“If you are shaking the solution hard enough to get bubbles, you are probably denaturing some of the vaccine and rendering it un-useful,” Lowe explains. He suggests gently inverting or swirling the solution instead.

Additionally, only mix what you’ll use within the hour and keep all vaccines out of the sunlight and at the right temperature. In northern climates, this means being mindful of vaccines freezing too.

When administering the vaccine, be sure to use sharp needles of the appropriate length and designate one syringe per vaccine type to prevent cross-contamination of your vaccine.

After all the cattle are through the chute, take the time to clean syringes right away. Lowe reminds people not to use soap or disinfectant and instead to use hot water.

“Three to five flushes of hot water over 180 degrees will thoroughly clean your syringes,” says Lowe.

Disassembling and boiling them is also an option.

Outside of basic handling and cleaning, vaccine efficacy can also be dependent on the weather and current stress load of the animals.

“If the weather is not agreeing with you, try to postpone it for a day if you can,” Lowe says. “This is especially important to consider for wet-hided animals.”

Of course, all these vaccine handling tips don’t matter if the proper vaccines are not being administered.

“The producer needs to view the veterinarian as more than the person you call when things go wrong,” Lowe adds.

Both parties should take the time to discuss the goals of the entire operation and immunity challenges that may arise.

“Our industry does a remarkably good job at producing beef and part of that is managing immunity,” Lowe says. “Take the time to review your herd health protocols with your veterinarian and review BQA materials to be prepared for any challenges that may come your way and boost performance in your herd.”

Listen to the full conversation here .

Raised with Respect™ Rewards Producers with Current BQA Certificates

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 21:26:10 GMT

Taking care of your herd is part of the job of every stockman, and it’s the right thing to do. While you’re not committed to cattle care for recognition, you could be rewarded for holding a current Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) certification.

Through two incentive opportunities, Certified Angus Beef (CAB) and Sysco are recognizing producers who go above and beyond to show commitment to their herd.

Raised with Respect™, a campaign that highlights a shared commitment to cattle care through BQA, is a partnership between Certified Angus Beef (CAB) and Sysco. It elevates the cattle industry’s work to address consumer concerns about animal welfare and reinforce trust in producers, which helps to ensure future demand for beef.

“By partnering with Sysco and collaborating with National Cattlemen’s Beef Association at Cattle Con, we are able to support and recognize producers who value continued education,” says Kirsten Nickles, Ph.D., CAB sustainability and animal care scientist. “Because CAB has relationships with every segment of the beef supply chain, we value the opportunity to come alongside BQA education at Cattlemen’s College.”

Get BQA’d at Cattle Con
During Cattle Con 2025, producers can become eligible to win two Greeley Hat Works custom pure beaver felt hats and hat cans while in San Antonio.

One Greeley Hat Works giveaway will go to a Cattle Con attendee who gets BQA certified during the BQA Certification: Rise to the Top session on Thursday, February 6 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. in the Demo Arena in the NCBA Trade Show.

The other hat giveaway will go to an attendee who attends Continuing Education (CE) sessions during Cattlemen’s College on Wednesday, February 5. To qualify, you must attend at least one session that counts towards CE credits and submit the questionnaire distributed at each session. To renew a BQA certificate at Cattle Con, you must attend three CE sessions as denoted by the BQA logo on the Cattlemen’s College schedule at Convention.NCBA.org/Education/Cattlemens-College.

Continuing Education was designed to renew a BQA certificate through credits achieved online at BQA.org or available sessions during Cattlemen’s College. This renewal option is only available to those who obtained a BQA certificate in the last four years. Anyone who has not been BQA’d in the last four years must attend an in-person BQA certification or complete the online modules.

The two winners of the Greeley Hat Works custom hats will be randomly selected by CAB at the conclusion of the BQA certification session on Thursday in the Demo Arena. Winners do not need to be present to claim the vouchers.

Enter the Raised with Respect™ Sweepstakes
To recognize cattlemen and women who go the extra step to show their commitment to cattle care through BQA certification, CAB and Sysco are holding the Raised with Respect™ Sweepstakes. Anyone who submits a current BQA certificate by February 14 is entered to win a John Deere Gator™. The giveaway includes the 845R – XUV 845R John Deere Premium Cab Crossover Utility Vehicle.

The winner will randomly be selected at 3:00 p.m. Eastern on February 14 and contacted to set up the order and delivery details, expecting to receive the Gator™ in late spring.

Everyone who enters a current BQA certificate will receive beef sticks from CAB. Those who enter and do not win will remain in the running for a final giveaway this spring. Not certified and unable to attend Cattle Con? Get BQA’d online in just a few hours at BQA.org. Review the Sweepstakes Rules at CABcattle.com/RaisedWithRespect. Must live in the contiguous U.S., be 18 or older and have a current BQA certificate to be eligible.

Your next read: Nalivka: What’s Impacting the Pace and Extent of Herd Building?

Learn Stewardship and Stockmanship Skills Through In Person and Virtual Events This Fall

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 17:36:19 GMT

Producers have opportunities for Beef Quality Assurance education through Stewardship and Stockmanship events. Research has shown 85 percent of cattle are raised under BQA practices and consumers are becoming more interested in knowing the safety and welfare standards cattle are raised under. Events on both east and west coasts, as well as a virtual option are available this fall.

Oct. 18-19, 2024-Fresno, Calif.

The Stockmanship & Stewardship tour stop will provide a comprehensive program for cattle producers interested in a tune-up and certification on Beef Quality Assurance. In addition to the familiar BQA discussions on chute-side protocols and maximizing the efficacy of your vaccination program, the Stockmanship & Stewardship event will feature nationally respected cattle handling clinicians, Dr. Ron Gill, Curt Pate and Dr. Dean Fish. This select panel will demonstrate the elements of effective stockmanship for the health and well-being of cattle during pasture movement, processing and shipping. A special section for professional livestock haulers will be held with Beef Quality Assurance Transportation certification available for those that complete the Friday afternoon session.

Oct. 25-26, 2024 in Hamburg, New York

This event is tailored for beef and dairy producers in New York and surrounding states. Producers will explore a range of informative topics such as carcass quality, grazing management, consumer insights, and more, all designed to elevate your operations and boost profitability.

Event Highlights:

Beef on Dairy Opportunities: Discover the potential benefits of incorporating beef genetics into your dairy operations, creating additional revenue streams and improving carcass quality. Learn about market trends, breeding strategies, and value-added opportunities that can enhance profitability for both beef and dairy producers.

Cattle Handling Demonstrations: Led by internationally renowned experts Curt Pate and Ron Gill, our cattle handling demonstrations will provide invaluable insights into effective stockmanship techniques, enhancing animal welfare and productivity on your farm.

Grazing Workshop: Join Sarah Flack, a grazing expert, to explore rotational grazing techniques, pasture management, and soil health improvement practices tailored to beef and dairy producers’ unique needs in the Northeast.

Consumer Insights Workshop: Gain valuable insights into consumer perceptions of animal welfare and how they influence purchasing decisions. Explore how the BQA program aligns with consumer expectations, offering solutions to their concerns and strengthening trust in beef and dairy products.

BQA Transportation Opportunity: Participate in a unique opportunity to learn about Beef Quality Assurance Transportation. Walk around a truck and trailer to learn pre-trip procedures, ensuring the safety and comfort of livestock during transit. Take advantage of this opportunity to network with experts, fellow producers, and stakeholders and take your beef and dairy operations to new heights.

Stockmanship & Stewardship as a Virtual Experience

Nov. 7, 2024-9:00am – 5:30am CST

This fall, the Stockmanship and Stewardship program will bring cattlemen and women a virtual experience with high quality content and educational sessions the industry has come to know and expect from our world class stockmanship clinicians. The tentative agenda can be found here .

Birdshot in Beef: A Hidden Defect

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 14:24:54 GMT

Birdshot or shotgun shell pellets have been found and reported in the beef supply since the first National Beef Quality Audit in the early 1990s, and the incidence of this foreign material in the beef we produce is not subsiding. In fact, the opposite might be true.

According to the 2022 National Beef Quality Audit, birdshot is a problem, with 100% of packing plants reporting buckshot/birdshot in beef from market cows and bulls. There are roughly 28 categories of items documented each year as foreign material in beef carcasses. Most of those items are found once to 15 times each on an annual basis and consist of large and easily identifiable objects. Birdshot, however, is found around 105 times a year and well over two times the rate of any other foreign object.

For context, if a ground beef processor makes 5 million ground beef patties each day, a defect rate of 1% would lead to 50,000 patties of wasted beef. A defect rate of 0.1% is 5,000 patties. A single incidence of birdshot found in the processing lines cost $10,000 in lost product and downtime. Why so much? If one pellet makes it through the grinder, it might have been sheared into numerous pieces that are barely detectable.

Bottomline: Hunters are not causing this problem — there are people out there handling their cattle with shotguns. This is not only poor animal handling, but also inhumane. Buckshot will not bounce off cattle and somehow go away. No matter how stupid or waspy cows and bulls might act, they should not be shot intentionally or by accident.

We need everyone on board to get the message out in producer meetings, educational programming and word of mouth. If we focus on promoting the right way mentality of Beef Quality Assurance, we can make a difference. Ultimately, birdshot, needles, darts and other foreign objects in beef are a food safety issue. Any abuse of animals is not acceptable, and shotguns are not a cattle handling tool. This needs to stop!

References:

A Black Spot in the Cattle Industry that’s Impossible to Chew. Jason Duggin, UGA Beef Extension Specialist. Michaela Clowser, NCBA’s Director of Producer Education. Dr. Patty Scharko, Clemson Extension Veterinarian.

Right Way. Right Time. A Guide to Cull Cattle Management. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

The Beef Quality Assurance Team and OSU Cooperative Extension Service hosted a hands-on workshop to share the latest knowledge will soon be available through your local county OSU extension office.

VIDEO: Meet Trust In Beef Industry Partner U.S. Roundtable For Sustainable Beef

Mon, 12 Sep 2022 17:50:31 GMT

This article was written by Nate Birt, Vice President of Trust In Food, a Farm Journal initiative. Learn more at www.trustinfood.com

Across the U.S., beef producers are taking the next step on their sustainability journey. To highlight the voice of those making a difference, Trust In Beef™ proudly introduces a video series spotlighting the collaborative value chain program’s partners.

In this video, Trust In Beef™ features rancher and U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (USRSB) 2021/22 Chair Steve Wooten of Kim, Colo.

“USRSB set goals for the entire beef supply chain because we’re all in it together – from pasture to plate – and made stronger by common efforts,” says Samantha Werth, Ph.D., executive director of USRSB. “These goals were set for the industry by the industry, including start-to-finish involvement of cattle producers.”

Learn more at USRSB.org/Goals.