The Kansas Beef Council and Frontier Extension District will host a Beef Quality Assurance Training and Certification, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, at the Franklin County Commission Chambers, 1418 S. Main St., Ottawa, Kan. The event will begin at 6 p.m. with dinner followed by the training at 6:30 p.m. RSVP is requested by Oct. 14. To RSVP, contact the Kansas Beef Council at 785-273-5225 or by emailing KBC@KansasBeef.org.
Kansas State University Extension beef veterinarian A.J. Tarpoff will be the presenter for the evening.
In the beginning of the Beef Quality Assurance Program, it focused on reducing chemical residues and injection site blemishes in meat products. BQA training taught us to move the location of the vaccinations to the triangular area of the neck, which is defined by the nuchal ligament (top of the neck), the spine (mid-lower neck), and the shoulder blade (side of the animal). This location minimizes damage to valuable meat cuts and avoids vital structures like blood vessels and the windpipe.
Today, BQA programs are much more evolved and include best practices around cattle handling, facility management, cattle transportation, good record keeping and protecting herd health, which all result in better outcomes for cattle and producers. Today, having an active BQA certification is more important than ever because the full beef supply chain is leveraging the program to ensure our commitment to food safety, cattle well-being, and beef quality.
Local cattle producers are reminded to mark their calendars and plan to attend this BQA training, and remember to RSVP.
