Quality Assurance Program Important Part of Beef Checkoff

One of the important parts of the Beef Checkoff is the “Quality Assurance Program,” and I talked about it with Conrad Kvamme at the recent World Dairy Expo. The discussion aired on Wednesday’s DairyLine with Kvamme reminding listeners that dairy producers are also beef producers as 22 percent of U.S. beef comes from dairy animals.  

That said, Kvamme underscored the importance that the animal marketed is a quality product and that any treatment with medication adhere to strict regulations so there are no residues in the meat.

Dairy producers are familiar with the Dairy Quality Assurance program. A similar program exists for beef so dairy and beef producers adhere to the same principals, according to Kvamme, because “public food safety is essential.”  

Check off dollars go to that end, he said, and he cited a pilot program in the Upper Midwest that uses posters and brochures and being at farm and trade shows and put on seminars so producers are quality assured. The materials are published in Spanish as well and a manual exists for educators to teach the principles. For more information, log on to www.beefusa.org.