2022 National Beef Quality Audit Released

The National Beef Quality Audit is conducted to create a guide for the industry to help determine quality conformance of what the US beef supply is and what can be done to improve it. The results from the 2022 audit are out and shows cattle industry concerns have evolved to include food safety, sustainability, animal well-being, and a growing disconnect between producers and consumers.

Dr. Brandi Karisch Associate Professor and extension beef cattle specialist for Mississippi State University says that producer mindfulness is one action producers can take for quality conformance.

"Particularly on the market cow and bull side of things. You know, where I'm from. Most producers aren't very close to the Fed industry. You know, if we talk about southeastern cattle, most of those are small cow-calf operations, and the closest they get to the beef supply is taking those market cows and bulls to slaughter. So I think being mindful of marketing those cattle is at the right time, not just when it's convenient for us but when it's best for those cattle and when it's best for the industry is something that's really important."

Dr. Trey Patterson, CEO of paddock ranch in Ranchester. Wyoming says that herd health is also a big deal.

"We have to continue to address that from a preventative health management standpoint and maybe also from a genetic standpoint of getting herd health controlled and especially in these calves go into feedlots, you know that affects our bottom line."

The NBAQA is conducted approximately every five years and has been conducted since 1991.