General Session II
The National Beef Quality Audit:
What's It Mean to a Cow-Calf Producer?
by Troy Smith for Angus Productions Inc.
HOUSTON, Texas (April 20, 2012) — Tom Woodward thinks the National Beef Quality Audit is influencing the culture of cattle folk. It has at Broseco Ranch, near Omaha, Texas, where Woodward is general manager. Results of the latest audit were discussed at the 2012 Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Research Symposium April 18 -21, in Houston. Speaking during the symposium’s second general session, Woodward talked about what previous national audits mean to cow-calf producers.
Tom Woodward
Woodward said the audits have helped cow-calf operators embrace the principles of Beef Quality Assurance (BQA). He thinks more of them have changed their ways of thinking — from that of ranchers marketing pounds of cattle to that of food producers. They’re more concerned about how the end product — beef — is perceived by consumers. To the consumer, said Woodward, “perception is reality.”
Likening the beef production chain to a relay race, Woodward said each segment represents a member of a team running toward a goal of quality control. Each member of the team runs a leg of the race.
“As a cow-calf producer, I’m the first man with the baton. If I don’t run well, it can ruin the chances of other guys,” said Woodward. “More cow-calf producers are realizing that they’re the ones that start the race.”
They might make a good start with good genetics and nutrition, but Woodward believes it takes more. He noted the need for attention to health and proper cattle handling practices. If a beef quality problem arises somewhere on down the chain, he wants to be sure it wasn’t because of anything that happened on his ranch.
“We train our employees to do things right. We follow BQA recommendations and do the best job we can, knowing the job is never over,” said Woodward. “That’s now part of our culture.”
Editor’s Note: This summary was written under contract or by staff of Angus Productions Inc. (API). Through an agreement with the Beef Improvement Federation, we are encouraging reprinting of the articles to those who will adhere to the reprint guidelines available on this site. Please review those guidelines or contact Shauna Rose Hermel, editor, at 816-383-5270. PowerPoints are posted with permission of the presenter and may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express permission of the presenter.
API's coverage of the event is made possible through collaboration with BIF and sponsorship of LiveAuctions.tv. For questions about this site, or to notify us of broken links, click here.
Headquartered in Saint Joseph, Mo., API publishes the Angus Journal, the Angus Beef Bulletin, the Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA, and the Angus e-List, as well as providing online coverage of events and topics pertinent to cattlemen through the API Virtual Library.
