Purdue News

December 1999 Beef certification program boosts quality, profits WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- The nation's most comprehensive and technologically advanced beef quality assurance program is about to be launched in Indiana. The IQ Plus Beef program is a preconditioning health program for cattle that is designed to ensure wholesome, safe, palatable beef, according to Matt Claeys, Extension beef cattle specialist at Purdue University. "Basically the cattle are managed under suggested practices that will result in high-quality-reputation cattle and superior beef products," Claeys said. "The program is designed to help beef producers identify areas that could result in a substandard product." Both beef producers and veterinarians who participate in the program must be certified, and cattle that are certified as IQ Plus Beef will have a tag attached to their left ear. "This is all driven toward increasing consumer trust that we are delivering a high-quality, reputable and consistent product," Claeys said. "Eventually consumers may see IQ Plus Beef logos on the meat packaging, which will make this a value-added product." The program is sponsored by the Indiana Beef Cattle Association, the Indiana Board of Animal Health, the Indiana Veterinary Medical Association, and the Purdue Cooperative Extension Service. Claeys said that farmers will benefit by participating in the program. "One of the most important things is that participation sends a strong positive statement that you're doing everything possible to produce a safe, wholesome, quality beef product," he said. "It will tell the public that you are raising beef responsibly and professionally." The Purdue specialist said he also expects that IQ Plus Beef program will increase profitability of beef operations. "IQ Plus Beef is targeted at making beef operations in Indiana economically sustainable by incorporating good business practices," Claeys said. A calculation of marketing options for Indiana feeder cattle by Purdue researchers predicted that beef producers could increase profits by an average of $38 per head with the IQ system. The comparison predicted that an IQ Plus-certified calf would incur $26 in additional costs over an unweaned, unvaccinated, uncastrated calf, but that it would bring in an additional $64 at sale because of its higher weight, for a total predicted net profit of $38. To be certified as IQ Plus Beef, a calf must meet these requirements: It must be castrated, dehorned, and have had external and internal parasite treatments. It must have had properly administered vaccinations. "All final vaccines have to be modified live vaccines, which give the greatest immunity to the calves," Claeys said. Also, all vaccines and injectable pharmaceuticals must be given in the neck. It must be weaned and bunk broken for at least 30 days. It must have been owned by the seller for at least 60 days. After a calf is certified as IQ Plus Beef, a certified veterinarian will place a tag in its left ear. As the program matures, it will enter a second phase where additional requirements for certifying cattle are added. "In December we'll release the minimum expected progeny differences for bulls that sire IQ Plus Beef calves," Claeys said. "To be certified from that point on, a calf will have to meet this standard when it is marketed in year three. We're also looking at requiring a minimum expected progeny difference for sires to be certified. "Also, Indiana and four neighboring states are looking at setting up a real-time Web site so that you know what your cattle's carcass results are. Each producer would have an identification number that they could enter into the Web site to get performance carcass information. That would tell you if you're making the right genetic decisions. We are working on a system where information on IQ Plus Beef will automatically be collected and posted, but producers not in the program would have to request this service." Ronald Lemenager, professor of animal sciences at Purdue, said: "The certification program allows beef producers themselves to conduct certain procedures that a veterinarian can do, such as give vaccinations, castrate, or dehorn. All of these procedures must be done in a way that eliminates defects for a calf to be certified as IQ Plus Beef. A non-certified producer would have to have a certified veterinarian do these procedures for a calf to be certified as IQ Plus Beef." Lemenager said there are additional benefits to becoming certified. "Once they are certified, beef producers will receive regular updates about the program, they get educational materials, and the training also puts together a network that the farmers can use to solve problems in their area." To be certified, a beef producer must attend a three-hour training session and pass a test. The cost of the training is $25. More information about the program is available on the Internet at the IQ Plus Beef Web site or from the Extension educators in each Indiana county. The Web site also contains information about certification training dates and locations, and dates and locations of sales of IQ Plus Beef calves. Sources: Matt Claeys; (765) 494-4834; mclaeys@purdue.edu Ronald Lemenager, (765) 494-4817; rpl@purdue.edu Writer: Steve Tally, (765) 494-9809; tally@aes.purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page