40 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN October 2026 “I like the fact the information will come from an independent source. The information provides needed and valuable feed ration information for a specific set of circumstances. There is no pressure to buy a certain product or do business with a specific provider.” - Jim V. Broken Bow, NE Join the prime producers! Order your feed testing kit today! 308-234-2418 www.wardlab.com 4007 Cherry Ave. Kearney, NE 68847 PEERS THE VALUE OF BQA CERTIFICATION LINDSAY WAECHTER-MEAD, DVM, MS | DIRECTOR OF NEBRASKA BEEF QUALITY ASSURANCE, NEBRASKA EXTENSION LIVESTOCK EDUCATOR The fall run is here. Cattle producers are looking to capitalize on record-high prices at auction markets across the country. Buyers are looking, too, and they are paying attention to more than just weight and frame size. Management and health programs consistently move the needle on price. Kansas State University and Merck Animal Health looked at 2023 calf sales through Superior Livestock Auction. The study analyzed 15,287 lots totaling more than 2.5 million calves to identify traits that improved sale price. Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) certi cation added $1.40 per hundredweight to sale prices, showing that buyers found value in this certi - cation. A 2019 study conducted by Colorado State University also showed a signi cant premium for calves and feeder cattle sold through Western Video Market. That study analyzed more than 8,800 lots of calves over eight years to determine whether sale prices were in uenced by mentioning BQA in the lot description. Results showed a premium of $16.80 per head for cattle listed with BQA in the description compared to those with no mention. These studies demonstrate that buyers are willing to pay extra for the risk reduction that BQA certi cation o ers. It is equally important that all segments of the industry – including producers, buyers and consumers – understand what BQA certi cation means and the value it brings. Producers who are BQA certi ed demonstrate a commitment to producing a safe and wholesome product and to the daily responsible management of their cattle. Herd health management is one of the areas covered during BQA certi - cation where producers learn the importance of developing herd-health protocols with a veterinarian, along with a basic understanding of how animal health products work and when and how to administer them to ensure judicious use. Because of producer education on proper injection site locations, needle size and safe handling of animal health products, injection site lesions have declined dramatically over the last 20 years. The 2022 National Beef Quality Audit found that 99.8 percent of fed cattle processed in the survey had no visible injection site lesions. Beef Quality Assurance education also emphasizes the importance of low-stress handling at all stages of life, with weaning highlighted as the most stressful event in a calf’s life. Management principles such as preconditioning calves, weaning for at least 45 days prior to selling and establishing a solid CONTINUED ON PAGE 42
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