Join OSU Extension on Monday, October 21st at 9:00 a.m. at 1425 East High Street, Bryan for Beef Quality Assurance – Transport (BQAT) training. The training will last approximately two hours. The event is free, but please RSVP to Henry County ANR Educator Garth Ruff at 419-592-0806.
Why should I become certified?
Beginning in 2020, several packers will require BQA Transportation certification of the haulers and drivers delivering cattle to their plants. Any professional hauler or farmer delivering loads of cattle directly to a processor should plan on attending a BQAT training and certification prior to delivering their first load of cattle in 2020. Much like producer BQA, the goal of the BQAT program is to make sure that cattle transporters are implementing good animal handling and transport practices.
What topics will be covered?
The in-person training will last approximately two hours and will cover many topics including:
- Cattle handling guidelines & diagrams
- Checklists for loading/unloading
- Checklists for hot/cold weather factors
- Checklists for fit/injured/weak cattle
- Checklist for traveling
- Loading suggestions and worksheets
- Bio-security & Emergency Action Plans
Is BQAT Certification the same thing as BQA Certification?
No, BQAT Certification is only for those delivering loads of cattle directly to a processor. BQA Certification is for anyone selling beef animals to be harvested for meat. For more information about BQA Certification, visit the OSU Extension Beef Team website by clicking here.
If you cannot attend in-person, BQAT may also be taken online at https://bqatransportation.beeflearningcenter.org/.