Stockmanship, Cattle Handling and BQA Workshops

A Stockmanship, Handling and BQA workshop featuring Curt Pate from Ryegate, Montana, will be held in Waukon November 17. The Stockmanship session teaches cattle handling methods that improve animal movement and cattle performance by reducing the stress on livestock. Pate will demonstrate low stress cattle handling methods that can be used whether gathering from the pasture or processing through corrals. The workshop will be held Saturday, November 17 at the Northeast Iowa Equity Sales Commission facility located north of Waukon on State Highway 76 starting at 10 a.m. and conclude about 2 p.m. 

In addition to animal handling, Denise Schwab from ISU Extension, will also be certifying participants in the BQA program. BQA is the foundation for the Tyson FarmCheck program which will be required for all who sell cattle to Tyson Fresh Meats in 2019. Other packers and many auction markets will also be requiring BQA certification.

Beef Quality Assurance does more than just help beef producers capture more value from their market cattle: BQA also reflects a positive public image and instills consumer confidence in the beef industry. BQA includes 8 best practices around good record keeping and protecting herd health. When better quality cattle leave the farm, the producer, packer, and consumer all benefit, and this increases beef consumption. BQA is valuable to all beef and dairy producers because it demonstrates commitment to food safety and quality, safeguards the public image of the dairy industry, protects the beef industry from additional and burdensome government regulation, and enhances herd profitability through better management. The Beef Checkoff supported BQA programs bring it all together.

This session is open to any beef producers in the area, and is sponsored by the Allamakee County Cattlemen Association, Innovative Ag Services, Equity Sales, Boehringer Ingelheim, Purina Animal Nutrition, the Iowa Beef Center, ISU Extension & Outreach, and the Iowa Beef Industry Council. It is free to attend but advance registration is requested to ensure adequate resource materials and food. There will be a meal provided, so register in advance by calling the Allamakee County Extension Office at 563-568-6345.