Director column

IBC director's monthly column featured in Cattleman Magazine. Archives
	October 2025 I had the opportunity recently to participate in a Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) training hosted by field specialist Denise Schwab and held at the Tama Livestock Auction Facility. It reminded me that while we certify periodically, it is important to always keep BQA practices at the forefront of our minds because of their positive impacts on cattle, the customers’ eating experience, and the industry’s bottom line. Regardless of whether this was your year to certify or not, as we approach a heavy time for weaning, transportation, and arrival processing of cattle at the feedyard, I thought I’d share some takeaways from the BQA meeting. Animal Behavior: Cattle are creatures of habit and can become stressed when their familiar surroundings change. They have herd instincts and become stressed when visually or physically separated from the herd. Keeping cattle in visual contact with the herd can help them remain calm. Because cattle have eyes on the side of their head, movement of humans along the chute can be perceived as an approaching predator and change the cattle's movement. Handling: The National Beef Quality Audit 2022 reported that 52% of fed cattle were bruised. Observing working facilities for sharp corners and implementing low-stress handling can help reduce the incidence of bruising. Using facilities specifically designed for working cattle, moving cattle in small groups, and wisely using sorting sticks and paddles to avoid bruising are key practices to minimizing bruising. Biosecurity: With the potential for groups of cattle to arrive at different times, and feed trucks or other visitors entering the feedlot, there are many opportunities for biosecurity to be breached. Remembering principles of physical separation, removal of contaminated material (fecal, blood, and saliva), and disinfection is key to maintaining biosecurity. Keep new arrivals separated and prevent nose-to-nose contact and shared waterers if possible. Quarantine cattle identified as sick to minimize the spread of disease. Most disease transfer in the feedlot comes from nose or mouth contact with contaminated material, which can be found on equipment, gates, waterers, bunks, and feed. Routinely removing contaminants from transport and working equipment and disinfecting waters and processing equipment can minimize transfer. Using separate tractors for feeding and manure removal also can improve biosecurity. For employees who move between cattle groups, it is important to disinfect or change boots and clothing to minimize disease spread. Disease also can be transferred by biting insects that move between animals. Having a good pest management plan for biting insects such as flies and ticks is important to minimizing disease transfer. Herd Health: To minimize the impacts of disease in cattle, it is necessary to work with your herd veterinarian to develop vaccination and treatment protocols specific to your operation. This veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR) also is required to purchase of a prescription medication or to acquire a Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) for medicated feed. When administering vaccinations or injectable medication on-farm, do so in front of the shoulder on the neck and follow label directions as to dose, withdrawal time, delivery amount per location, and route of delivery (IV, IM, or SQ). If not specified, a good rule of thumb is to limit injection to no more than 10 cc per injection site. Change syringe needles frequently and disinfect implant needles between each animal. Establish an effective record for used product, date delivered, dose, and location for all injections. Restraining cattle with a squeeze chute during injection decreases the incidence of a needle breaking off and abscessing or becoming foreign material in the animal at market. Transportation: Transportation is one of the most stressful events in cattle’s lifetime and impacts cattle at arrival and departure from the feedyard. Shipped cattle can range from 300 lb. weanlings to 1800 lb. finished cattle. It is important to give attention to loading density to comply with transportation laws and reduce cattle stress. As cattle market weights have been heavier in recent years, mobility issues may arise, and attention should be given to the movement of these larger animals. Move cattle during the cool parts of the day to minimize stress and potential for dark-cutters. Additional factors to consider before transport include trailer condition (cleanliness, sharp edges, stable floor to support the weight of cattle transported) and trailer functionality (lights, ramps, brakes, axles, and tires in working order). Check for potential weather events during transport and plan accordingly. Safety: Working with live animals has risk, and planning for the safety of employees and animals is important. Use the proper animal handling and restraining equipment for the safety of humans and animals. Contact your local electrical co-op for safety training for the service to your farm. Be aware of chemical uses and methods of clean-up and disposal. Be aware of gases from manure pits, poorly ventilated areas, and silage pits. These can result in danger to humans and animals. There are many aspects to BQA, and only so much can be covered in a single column. Following BQA guidelines can continue to help improve cattle handling and management for cattle and producers. The IBC at Iowa State University serves as the university’s extension program to cattle producers. Our center comprises a team of faculty and staff from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the College of Veterinary Medicine and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. We work together to develop and deliver the latest in research-based information to improve the profitability and vitality of Iowa’s beef industry. If you’d like to be notified of updates on progress of research projects or programs that might be coming to your area, please subscribe to our “Growing Beef” newsletter by following the link on our website, www.iowabeefcenter.org. If you have a question, use our “Ask our Experts” link. Also, feel free to call us at 515-294-BEEF or email us at beefcenter@iastate.edu. You can follow @iowabeefcenter on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.

IBC director's monthly column featured in Cattleman Magazine. Archives

October 2025

I had the opportunity recently to participate in a Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) training hosted by field specialist Denise Schwab and held at the Tama Livestock Auction Facility. It reminded me that while we certify periodically, it is important to always keep BQA practices at the forefront of our minds because of their positive impacts on cattle, the customers’ eating experience, and the industry’s bottom line. Regardless of whether this was your year to certify or not, as we approach a heavy time for weaning, transportation, and arrival processing of cattle at the feedyard, I thought I’d share some takeaways from the BQA meeting.

Animal Behavior: Cattle are creatures of habit and can become stressed when their familiar surroundings change. They have herd instincts and become stressed when visually or physically separated from the herd. Keeping cattle in visual contact with the herd can help them remain calm. Because cattle have eyes on the side of their head, movement of humans along the chute can be perceived as an approaching predator and change the cattle's movement.

Handling: The National Beef Quality Audit 2022 reported that 52% of fed cattle were bruised. Observing working facilities for sharp corners and implementing low-stress handling can help reduce the incidence of bruising. Using facilities specifically designed for working cattle, moving cattle in small groups, and wisely using sorting sticks and paddles to avoid bruising are key practices to minimizing bruising.

Biosecurity: With the potential for groups of cattle to arrive at different times, and feed trucks or other visitors entering the feedlot, there are many opportunities for biosecurity to be breached. Remembering principles of physical separation, removal of contaminated material (fecal, blood, and saliva), and disinfection is key to maintaining biosecurity. Keep new arrivals separated and prevent nose-to-nose contact and shared waterers if possible. Quarantine cattle identified as sick to minimize the spread of disease. Most disease transfer in the feedlot comes from nose or mouth contact with contaminated material, which can be found on equipment, gates, waterers, bunks, and feed. Routinely removing contaminants from transport and working equipment and disinfecting waters and processing equipment can minimize transfer. Using separate tractors for feeding and manure removal also can improve biosecurity. For employees who move between cattle groups, it is important to disinfect or change boots and clothing to minimize disease spread. Disease also can be transferred by biting insects that move between animals. Having a good pest management plan for biting insects such as flies and ticks is important to minimizing disease transfer.

Herd Health: To minimize the impacts of disease in cattle, it is necessary to work with your herd veterinarian to develop vaccination and treatment protocols specific to your operation. This veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR) also is required to purchase of a prescription medication or to acquire a Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) for medicated feed. When administering vaccinations or injectable medication on-farm, do so in front of the shoulder on the neck and follow label directions as to dose, withdrawal time, delivery amount per location, and route of delivery (IV, IM, or SQ). If not specified, a good rule of thumb is to limit injection to no more than 10 cc per injection site. Change syringe needles frequently and disinfect implant needles between each animal. Establish an effective record for used product, date delivered, dose, and location for all injections. Restraining cattle with a squeeze chute during injection decreases the incidence of a needle breaking off and abscessing or becoming foreign material in the animal at market.

Transportation: Transportation is one of the most stressful events in cattle’s lifetime and impacts cattle at arrival and departure from the feedyard. Shipped cattle can range from 300 lb. weanlings to 1800 lb. finished cattle. It is important to give attention to loading density to comply with transportation laws and reduce cattle stress. As cattle market weights have been heavier in recent years, mobility issues may arise, and attention should be given to the movement of these larger animals. Move cattle during the cool parts of the day to minimize stress and potential for dark-cutters. Additional factors to consider before transport include trailer condition (cleanliness, sharp edges, stable floor to support the weight of cattle transported) and trailer functionality (lights, ramps, brakes, axles, and tires in working order). Check for potential weather events during transport and plan accordingly.

Safety: Working with live animals has risk, and planning for the safety of employees and animals is important. Use the proper animal handling and restraining equipment for the safety of humans and animals. Contact your local electrical co-op for safety training for the service to your farm. Be aware of chemical uses and methods of clean-up and disposal. Be aware of gases from manure pits, poorly ventilated areas, and silage pits. These can result in danger to humans and animals.

There are many aspects to BQA, and only so much can be covered in a single column. Following BQA guidelines can continue to help improve cattle handling and management for cattle and producers.

The IBC at Iowa State University serves as the university’s extension program to cattle producers. Our center comprises a team of faculty and staff from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the College of Veterinary Medicine and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. We work together to develop and deliver the latest in research-based information to improve the profitability and vitality of Iowa’s beef industry. If you’d like to be notified of updates on progress of research projects or programs that might be coming to your area, please subscribe to our “Growing Beef” newsletter by following the link on our website, www.iowabeefcenter.org. If you have a question, use our “Ask our Experts” link. Also, feel free to call us at 515-294-BEEF or email us at beefcenter@iastate.edu. You can follow @iowabeefcenter on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.