BQA Strengthens Link Between Beef Producers and Consumers

Beef Quality Assurance or BQA is becoming more and more important in today’s beef cattle industry. And participation by producers continues to grow as certifications, including dairy and youth facing programs, recently surpassed the 350,000 mark.

Jesse Fulton is Director of Producer Education for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and manages Cattlemen’s College and oversees the National Beef Quality Audit and works with the Beef Quality Assurance program.

He says BQA encourages proper animal care which today’s consumers are demanding.

“I think it's important that everyone knows the whole story” said Fulton. “So, you know, BQA is a voluntary program for producers to participate in. And right now, there is a demand from consumers actually for a quality assurance program when it comes to the animal protein that they are purchasing. Especially, a quality assurance program where animal welfare is the primary focus. And that's exactly what the Beef Quality Assurance program is.”

Today about 85 percent of U.S. beef comes from Beef Quality Assurance or BQA certified farmers and ranchers. BQA helps producers be better stewards of animals and the land and that’s really important in today’s beef cattle industry.

To learn more about Beef Quality Assurance, visit www.bqa.org.