Beef Quality Assurance
Beef consumers have become more health conscious and are concerned about the relationship between red meat diets and diseases of over-consumption. Uneasiness exists over potential drug and chemical residue contamination of beef products. Also, concerning are perceptions that using antibiotics in food animals might be responsible for increased antibiotic resistance in microbes associated with food borne illness in humans. These concerns for the safety of beef products sparked industry leaders to find ways to address public regard for beef product quality.
2012 National Beef Quality Assurance Award
This is the fourth year of the National BQA Award given out to individuals who display commitment to BQA while operating a sustainable cattle operation. Any individual of any beef industry segment (cow/calf, feedlot, stocker, dairy, etc.) can be nominated by either an individual, organization, etc. To nominate an individual that you think displays continuous efforts and commitment to BQA please visit
www.bqa.org or download the following application:
2012 National BQA Award Nomination Packet
BQA Certification Workshop
BQA Certification Workshop More than 600 Idaho beef producers currently hold Beef Quality Assurance Certification from a workshop developed and run by the University of Idaho Extension.
Brought to Idaho in the early 1990’s, the core of Idaho’s BQA Program —currently free to participants— involves BQA Certification. One-day certification workshops—developed and run by University of Idaho Extension—lead participants through the Idaho BQA Certification Manual.
Workshop information
Available BQA Materials
Publications and Research