UACES Facebook Beef Quality Assurance workshops scheduled through May
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Beef Quality Assurance workshops scheduled through May

April 8, 2022

By Mary Hightower
U of A System Division of Agriculture

Fast facts

  • Beef Quality Assurance Workshops in April, May
  • Participants will learn low-stress chute work, vaccine handling

(203 words)

(Newsrooms: with art https://flic.kr/p/2ncHkmp)

LITTLE ROCK — Ranchers across Arkansas will be able to obtain Beef Quality Assurance certification or re-certification at one of five upcoming workshops scheduled for Fayetteville, Batesville, Malvern, Magnolia and Mena.

“Beef Quality Assurance, or BQA, is a national program meant to uphold best standards of animal welfare for the production of high-quality cattle,” said Heidi Ward, extension veterinarian for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and BQA coordinator. “At these workshops, ranchers learn the best techniques for everyday activities including how to provide low-stress handling as cattle go through chutes, how to properly use vaccines, and how to develop a herd health plan with a veterinarian.”

BQA workshop image showing a veterinarian and county agent.
BQA WORKSHOP — Dr. Darren McVay, veterinarian, left, and BQA trainer, and Lance Blythe, Greene County extension ag agent and BQA trainer, discuss herd health and vaccine handling during the Delta District Beef Quality Assurance Workshop at the Gateway Animal Clinic  March 21, 2022, in Walnut Ridge, AR. (Image by Heidi Ward)

The first workshop of the year, held in March at Walnut Ridge, had 15 producers with a mix of interests including cow/calf, stocker and seedstock operators.

Each workshop is tailored to address topics specific to that region.

The schedule of workshops:

  • April 28 — FAYETTEVILLE — Division of Agriculture’s Savoy Farm
  • May 5 — BATESVILLE — Livestock & Forestry Research Station
  • May 6 — MALVERN — Whiskey Ridge Ranch
  • May 13 — MAGNOLIA — Southern Arkansas University
  • May 20-21 — MENA — Wickes Community Center

Learn more about the BQA program in Arkansas. BQA is supported by checkoff dollars provided by the Arkansas Beef Council.

To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uark.edu. Follow on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk. To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu.

 About the Division of Agriculture

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system. 

The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.  

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action institution. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate or need materials in another format, please contact your county extension office as soon as possible. Dial 711 for Arkansas Relay. 

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Media contact: Mary Hightower
mhightower@uada.edu

 

 

 

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