Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc. Becomes Sponsoring Partner for BQA Certification
Producers get educational resources for operational improvement, and ways to talk with consumers about the beef industry.
News release by Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc.
DENVER, Colo. (Feb. 6, 2013) — The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announces that Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc. (BIVI) is partnering with the Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program, and will be sponsoring the cost of BQA certification for American cattlemen and cattlewomen this spring.
The cost of BQA certification is normally $25-$50; however, between Feb. 11 and March 15, BIVI will defray the cost of the certification, making it free for producers.
“BQA provides cattlemen with the tools they need to produce the safest, highest-quality beef in the world while also looking at ways to make their operations more efficient and productive,” said BQA Senior Director Ryan Ruppert.
Ruppert notes that BQA is the gold standard of livestock handling and animal welfare programs, and that BIVIs support of BQA certification demonstrates the company’s commitment to improving the industry and telling consumers about the sound production practices most cattlemen use every day. BIVI has also placed emphasis on managing herd health before problems arise to prevent issues and keep operations running efficiently.
BQA has customized programs specific to cow-calf, stocker, feedlot or dairy operations. The easy-to-use modules teach sound management techniques producers can apply to their operation. The cattle industry has embraced BQA because it is the right thing to do, but certified producers also report improvements in efficiency and increased profitability. It also helps cattle operations tell their story to consumers who might not understand all of the safety measures cattlemen take in producing the food on the table.
"We're proud to partner with BQA to bring this important certification program to more American cattlemen and dairy producers," said David Korbelik, BIVI director of cattle marketing. "Much like our Prevention Works approach to animal health, BQA is about monitoring and making incremental improvements throughout the life cycle to prevent disease and ensure a quality end product. We will also be working with the BQA to allow access to the training and certification program for animal health and veterinary students.”
Those interested in taking advantage of this BQA certification opportunity can go to http://BIVI-BQA.com. “It’s clear that Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc. is committed to helping consumers understand that beef is produced in a safe and humane manner,” said Ruppert. “This partnership will help producers learn about the latest industry advancements and demonstrate the ways they continue to provide a top-quality food product.”
For more information on the BQA program visit www.BQA.org. To complete the BQA certification process, visit www.BQA.org/team.
To learn more about the Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedic, Inc. Prevention Works program, visit www.bivipreventionworks.com. To learn more about BIVI, visit www.bi-vetmedica.com/cattle.
Like Boehringer Ingelheim Prevention Works on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BIVIPreventionWorks.
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Editor's Note: The Boehringer Ingelheim group is one of the world’s 20 leading pharmaceutical companies. Headquartered in Ingelheim, Germany, it operates globally with 145 affiliates and more than 44,000 employees. Since it was founded in 1885, the family-owned company has been committed to researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing novel medications of high therapeutic value for human and veterinary medicine.
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