BROOKINGS, S.D. — A new online Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Transportation Certification is available via the National Beef Quality Assurance program. The BQA Transportation Certification was released online in November 2017.
Transporters are an invaluable member of the beef supply chain. Before beef reaches the dinner plate, a beef animal is hauled several times in its life. Cattlemen and transporters both insure the safety of people and cattle, the quality of beef products, and demonstrate their ethical commitment of caring for animals humanely. When cattle trucks hit the road, they become highly visible to the public’s eye and maintaining the highest level of animal welfare is critical throughout the journey.
Course Overview
Transporting cattle at any age in their life is a stressful experience, so cattlemen and professional drivers should ensure the best care for the animals prior to, during, and after the journey. The BQA Transportation Certification teaches industry best management practices and reviews laws and regulations for transporting cattle.
Options & Lessons
Two course options focus the content for Farmers and Ranchers or Professional Drivers. Seven lessons make up the courses:
- Introduction to BQA Transportation
- Principles of Stockmanship
- Biosecurity
- Fitness for Transport
- Pre-Trip Planning and Loading
- On the Road, Arrival and Unloading
- Risk and Emergency Management
- Final Assessment
The course takes approximately 90 minutes to complete, but it can be completed in multiple sittings. Upon successful completion, a certificate is provided that can be printed or saved as a training record. Certification is valid for three years.
For more information, and to view all BQA programs and resources, visit the Beef Quality Assurance website. For questions regarding BQA Transportation Certification or BQA Certification, please contact Heidi Carroll.
— SDSU Extension Livestock Stewardship Associate SDSU Animal Science Department
For more news from South Dakota, click here.