The purpose of this program is best described by the program mission statement: “to maximize consumer confidence in, and acceptance of, beef by focusing the producer’s attention to daily production practices that influence the safety, wholesomeness and quality of beef and beef products through the use of science, research and educational initiatives.”
The New Mexico Beef Quality Assurance Program (BQA) is patterned after national guidelines developed and adopted by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. The New Mexico program is conducted by the New Mexico Cooperative Extension Service. The Cooperative Extension Service provides the training, conducts the testing and houses the database to provide renewal notification to NM producers.
Individuals who attend a Beef Quality Assurance training workshop conducted by the Extension Service and pass a test administered at the workshop, can become NM BQA Certified producers. This can and should include anyone involved in beef or dairy cattle production, and may include individuals who do not own or market animals, such as ranch hands or dairy workers.
At the heart of the national BQA program is the consumer. As beef producers, it is our responsibility to provide the safest and most wholesome product we can. Daily production practices can influence the quality of the product we produce, both positively and negatively. The mission of the BQA program is to educate producers of these daily practices and have them incorporate production practices that enhance the quality of the beef they produce. By producer adoption of the BQA guidelines, the safety and wholesomeness of our product will instill consumer confidence in the beef industry and the products we place in the hands of that consumer.
John Wenzel, DVM
Extension Veterinarian
Phone: 575-646-3019
Email: jwenzel@nmsu.edu
