Veterinarians Can Receive Free BQA Certification
Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. (BIVI) is offering free Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) certification online for veterinarians and beef and dairy producers through April 15. BIVI will pick up the $25-$50 online training fee for every person completing BQA training through April 15. That includes anyone who works with cattle – whether it is beef or dairy. Visit www.bqa.org to take advantage of the open certification period and complete your certification at your own convenience. The BQA program is funded by the Beef Checkoff.
The BQA program is important to the cattle industry because it is a producers’ consumer-friendly story to tell, helping them talk about using BQA Best Management Practices for producing a safe and high quality beef product. And for dairy producers, this offering also is beneficial as a tool to promote safe animal-handling practices and because a large percentage of dairy calves, as well as market cows, make their way into the food chain.
The BQA training modules are customized to fit the specific needs of each segment of the cattle industry – cow-calf, stocker, feedyard and dairy operations. The program covers best management practices such as proper handling and administration of animal health products, reducing injection site blemishes, and low stress cattle-handling principles.
Beyond reinforcing industry best practices for cattle production, obtaining certification can be a useful tool in an ever-changing landscape where consumers want to be assured they are receiving a product raised in ways that align with BQA.
Geni Wren
Communications Specialist
American Association of Bovine Practitioners