Bedford – In an effort to expand the reach of the Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program, the PA Beef Council (PBC) hosted a BQA training for nine veterinary students attending the University of Pennsylvania. The students, who are all in the food animal track are preparing for graduation and to head out into the field as licensed veterinarians.
Students completed the Level 1 and Level 2 training programs, presented by Courtney Cowden, BQA Coordinator for Pennsylvania and Dr. Hayley Springer, PSU Extension Veterinarian and Research Associate.
The highlight of the training was a trip to Wyalusing, Pennsylvania where the students visited the Cargill beef processing facility and a Formula 1 Veal operation. For the students, this trip was their first time seeing a large-scale beef processing plant. They were most impressed by the animal handling, plant efficiency and the food safety procedures that Cargill follows.
Visiting the Formula 1 veal operation also allowed students to expand their horizons and ask producer oriented questions about the veal industry.
The PA Beef Council was able to provide this opportunity for students through the Northeast Dairy Beef Quality Assurance (NEDBQA) program.
For questions related to BQA or NEDBQA contact Courtney Cowden, PA BQA Coordinator.
The Pennsylvania Beef Council is a producer-controlled and funded organization, which administers the Beef Checkoff Program in Pennsylvania. The Beef Checkoff Program assesses $1 per head on the sale of live domestic and imported cattle, in addition to a comparable assessment on imported beef and beef products. Checkoff revenues may be used for promotion, education and research programs to improve the marketing climate for beef.
Source: The Pennsylvania Beef Council