Quality Assurance Certification
In the news, you heard about the recent recall with consumers eating beef. Several people in the United States were sick as they had consumed contaminated beef. Well, in Nebraska we can look at this in a positive direction as all producers and 4-H members are required to take Quality Assurance Programs that each Extension Office provides in the spring of the year.
Through these programs, Extension personnel teach about the daily care, management practices, prevention, handling, carcass quality and medication. With all these areas being covered, it will help prevent any recalls to happen within the state of Nebraska.
As you know every consumer has the right to buy a safe food product. Consumers have the responsibility of properly handling and preparing food products after they buy them. However, there are many steps in the production of meat, milk and egg products before the consumer buys them.
As a livestock producer, you have a responsibility to consumers. Every livestock producer and 4-H member is important! Even if you have only one animal or thousands, you are still producing food for someone to eat. Your role is to provide proper care during the time you own and are responsible for your animals. Proper care of your animals will help produce safe, high quality meat, poultry and dairy products.
This is where Quality Assurance comes into the whole equation. Everyone who is involved in the production side of any specie that will go to harvest must understand the basic principles of Quality Assurance.
So if you’re a livestock producer or 4-H livestock member who needs to update on how efficient your practices are, contact your local extension office and get certified in Quality Assurance.
