Beef Quality Assurance

by Bryce Moore and Billy Cook and Ryan Reuter and Job Springer

General Information (page 1 of 11)

General Information Facility: Facility Upkeep and Maintenance Procedures Biosecurity Procedures Cattle: Cattle Handling Procedures Receiving and Administering Cattle Health Products Procedures Breeding and Stocker Cattle Receiving and Selling Procedures Feedlot Cattle Receiving and Shipping Procedures Feedstuff Receiving, Storage, and Feeding Procedures Pesticides, Herbicides, and Fertilizer Application Procedures Record Keeping Procedures Bibliography

This manual was designed to provide a means to standardize many of the procedures for activities conducted at a ranch, farm, feedlot, backgrounding yard, or preconditioning yard via the use of a good management plan approach. This plan creates standard operating procedures to assure that Beef Quality Assurance guidelines are met, that manageable risks and defects are minimized, and that people who work at or visit these facilities are always met with a strong sense of pride and ownership.

The quality manual consists of nine Good Management Practices (GMPs). Each GMP has a specified objective. Beneath each objective is a list of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). These SOPs were designed to meet the objective of each GMP. The record forms referred to within the quality manual are located at the end of the manual in numerical order. It is to be noted that some forms may not apply to all operations.

It is to be understood that the contents of this manual are not permanent. As the operation grows and changes, so will the manual. It may be discovered that some of the SOPs simply don't work in a particular production setting and that changes are needed. This manual does, however, provide an excellent foundation for the formation of a highly efficient, quality-focused operation.

Training

It is very important that management and all employees understand the contents of this quality manual. All employees should be trained to satisfactory levels before beginning work. Upon completion of the training, employees should fill out an Employee Training Checklist (Form 400 provided as an example), sign it, and have it signed by the ranch or feedlot manager to verify that the employee has met all of the requirements. The Checklists should remain on file in the Manager's Office throughout the entire term of employment.

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