BQA - Components of Superior Cattle Handling Facilities

Well-designed and effectively run cattle-handling facilities help to decrease cattle injury, illness and death; ensure high-quality beef; and improve consumer perceptions of the beef cattle industry. This publication discusses what components are needed for a superior cattle-handling facility and how to make the most of an existing facility. It also provides a diagram of a simple but effective facility. BQA = Beef Quality Assurance. Beef Quality Assurance is a nationally coordinated, state-implemented program that provides systematic information to U.S. beef producers and beef consumers on common sense husbandry techniques and how they can be coupled with accepted scientific knowledge to raise cattle under optimum management and environmental conditions. BQA guidelines are designed to make certain all beef consumers can take pride in what they purchase, and can trust and have confidence in the entire beef industry.