7-15 IAN Beef Audit

 2011 Beef Quality Audit Underway, Producer Input Needed  

Cattle producers are being asked to provide their input to the 2011 National Beef Quality Audit by taking a short survey at www.cattlesurvey.com.  The audit, led by scientists from Colorado State University and Texas A&M University, is designed to collect and analyze information from cooler audits in the packing sector, face-to-face interviews with beef supply chain partners and for the first time cattle producers including feeders, stockers, cow-calf operators, and seedstock producers will be surveyed. Producer input is being sought to strengthen the measurement of quality-based practices implemented on farms and ranches that support consumer confidence in beef products and production systems.  I asked Idaho cattlemen’s Association executive vice president, Wyatt Prescott about his take on the intent behind the audit: “I don’t know for certain what the intent is other than to garner information about how cattle are being produced and in what fashion, what steps producers are taking to ensure the quality of those animals which every producer should be proud of across the nation.”

According to Tom Field, Executive Director of the NCBA’s Producer Education, the audit has been conducted approximately every four years with the historic focus centered on quantifying the performance of beef for a number of value enhancing characteristics. Field said the previous surveys have assisted in identifying challenges and opportunities for cattle producers.