BQA Winners Host Virtual Farm and Auction Market Tours
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The annual checkoff-funded Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Award is created to recognize outstanding beef and dairy producers from across the country who incorporate BQA principles as part of the day-to-day activities on their operations. The winners are selected based on their commitment to beef quality assurance while operating sustainable cattle operations.
This year’s dairy winner is Phoebe Bitler, Vista Grande Farm in Fleetwood, Pa., and beef winner is Jim Warren, 101 Livestock Inc., Aromas, Calif.
On March 11, 2010, Phoebe and Jim took us on a “virtual tour” of the dairy farm and auction market. Here are some key takeaways/highlights from the two award winners:
Phoebe Bitler
Phoebe says they are constantly trying to improve on beef quality assurance standards on their dairy farm.
- Phoebe focuses on prevention systems, such as the provision for cow comfort through regular hoof trimming, waterbeds, tunnel ventilation, and large quantities of clean, fresh water; reproductive and genetic management to extend longevity; providing proper balanced nutrition based on high quality forages; monitoring proper use and withdrawal/withholding on drugs and handling the cows calmly. Phoebe believes firmly that they and their cattle are a team; they work in partnership. “If you take good care of the cow, she will take care of you.”
- Managing for increased returns on market cows at harvest by reconditioning prior to selling as “white cows.” The Cargill White Cow program can provide more than $350 additional return, per cow, if managed and marketed in a timely manner.
- Vista Grande has reduced lesions and knots by giving oxytocin in the milk vein and moving injection sites to the triangle target on the neck.
- Providing extensive training to hired labor. Phoebe recognizes that not all new hires have the patience or demeanor to work with cattle; she will shift personnel quickly, if this is the case, rather than jeopardize the productivity, wellness and comfort of their dairy cattle.
- Cow comfort: Milking cows are housed in large roomy tie stalls that are equipped with water beds. Shredded newspapers are recycled to keep the beds dry. The waterbeds have been used for 10 years, and they have virtually eliminated swollen hocks and bruises. Any cow that has any kind of difficulty with getting up and down is put onto a bedded pack except for milking. Tunnel ventilation keeps the air fresh and circulating when the cows are in the barn. Large capacity water pipes assure that there is enough clean, fresh water at all times. Water is tested every 6 weeks, and a chlorinator assures that the water is clean. During the summer, the milking herd is turned out to pasture overnight for exercise. In the winter, they are allowed to exercise in a concrete barnyard. All concrete lots are scraped on a regular basis. The pastures are divided into paddocks to allow for rotation. Cattle walkways keep the lanes from getting muddy. Watering facilities are located in the lots. If it is rainy, the dairy herd is kept in the dry.
- Phoebe and her family have hosted many “Ag in the Classroom” type events for schools, scouts, seniors and farm-city tours. They have also hosted “Breakfast on the Farm” for the Berks County Chamber of Commerce Executive Board. These types of events provide opportunities to share the truth about modern animal production, dispelling popular animal rights myths. Vista Grande Farm coexists with their community by offering a transparent view of their dairy practices.
- For more information and video clips from Phoebe’s dairy farm, visit www.DiscoverDairy.com.
Jim Warren
Jim originally leased the auction market in 1975. At that time, the market had two full-time employees and sold about 5,000 cattle annually. Today, there are 12 full-time employees and up to 60,000 cattle are sold each year.
- The complete modernization of the physical plant began in 1985. The pens were rebuilt of pipe and sucker rod. The ground was graded to not only maximize the drainage, but also divert water around the perimeter pens. Jim purchased the facility in 1987 and by 1991, the remodel was complete with a new auction building containing the most modem computers, and computer programs to transfer vaccination information and tag numbers directly to buyers.
- As the cattle travel through the facility, there are tubs that feed cattle through the chutes, out of pens and onto trucks. All gates at the yard open away from the animals, so as to avoid any bruising. The side opening of the auction ring is also unique to other operation and allows for a smoother, more comfortable transport of animals into the ring.
- Beef quality has been the number one goal of Jim and his management team for over 30 years. They started by improving animal health, and developed a physical plant the allowed for the most comfortable and humane transportation of cattle through the facility; next came the EID program in 1999, followed by their Quality Systems Assessment and Process Verification Program, which were USDA-approved. Being on the leading edge of beef quality issues has kept both buyer and seller, doing business with 101 for more than three decades.
- Good husbandry practices at the market start with feed. Feeding chopped hay in line bunks from the outside of the pens duplicates most feedlot situations. Cattle leaving 101 already know the feed wagon when they arrive at their new home. Having enough pens to presort cattle and put them back on feed until sale time helps to eliminate both stress and shrink.
- In 1985, 101 started a vaccination program designed to help cattle develop immunity to the majority of the major diseases in the industry. Healthy cattle that stay healthy are a benefit to the entire beef industry. In 1999, Jim started the first animal identification program at 101. His view, prior to BSE and 9/11, was that animal ID could help identify and isolate problems in the beef business resulting from critical health issues or a terrorist attack. He felt the movement toward large-scale animal ID was just around the corner; little did he realize it would be nearly a decade before the ideas of animal ID in the United States would really catch on.
- In 2000, 101 started rewarding producers who participated in their "Vaccination Program #1" (which consists of at least one shot of modified live 4-way, 8-way and pasturella) with free floppy animal ID tags. That year, 20,000 tags were given to encourage participation. The calves and yearlings commanded premium prices and the animal ID vaccination program, and BQA received its first "shot in the arm." Today, 80% of all cattle sold at 101 have EID tags, qualify for PVP programs, and have at least one series of vaccinations through the 101 program.
- 101 accepts no non-ambulatory (downer) cattle; however, if a cow goes down at the facility, the animal is transported, by way of sled, to independent feed and water and given at least six hours to stand. If the animal is unable to stand after six hours, it is euthanized. Sick or lame animals are not allowed onto the trucks. Jim would rather hold animals over and be sure they are given the care they need and that they are delivered to their buyers in good condition - rather than sending them on in "as is" condition and passing a potential problem forward in the production chain.
- In 1990, Jim started the American Large Animal Humane Association, the first large animal specific humane group in the U.S. His idea behind this group was to allow cattlemen and ranchers to control their destiny on humane issues from within the industry. Jim says he believes this type of organization could have a very positive impact on the future of the beef business. More information about the organization is available at www.alahassoc.org.
Click here to view the entire PowerPoint webinar presentation.
Click here to listen to the full webinar audio file from March 11, 2010.
The Beef Checkoff Program was established as part of the 1985 Farm Bill. The checkoff assesses $1 per head on the sale of live domestic and imported cattle, in addition to a comparable assessment on imported beef and beef products. States retain up to 50 cents on the dollar and forward the other 50 cents per head to the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board, which administers the national checkoff program, subject to USDA approval.
Funded by the Beef Checkoff.
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