For the third year in a row, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica is helping pay the expense for producers to become certified in Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) through April 15, 2015. Boehringer Ingelheim Director of Cattle Professional Services Dr. Craig Jones said they are trying to offer a platform for producers to become trained and educated on Beef Quality Assurance and the value that will provide them.
In the two previous sign up periods, Jones said the program has been successful. He said through their website, producers can log on and become BQA certified or recertified. Boehringer Ingelheim is covering the certification cost which runs from $25 - $50 per beef or dairy producer.
BQA offers a set of best management practices for producers to produce quality healthy cattle and in turn safe, nutritious beef. Jones said this program bring value to the entire beef industry as the program educates producers on management of feed stuffs, proper administration of vaccines, proper handling of vaccines, record keeping, nutrition, etc. He said overall it will help people produce a better product.
Becoming certified in BQA is somewhat like the “Good Housekeeping” seal of approval for the consumer. Jones said consumers are interested in knowing where their beef produced and that it is produced properly.
“People who are BQA certified, they have taken that extra step to do things right and that goes over well with the customer and the consumer,” Jones said.
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