Certification Guidelines
Producers who become certified through the Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program are eligible to become involved in the Montana Beef Network Feeder Cattle Certification program. Although not all producers who become BQA Certified take this next step, this is an important component of the "systems approach" utilized by the Montana Beef Network.
Certification Concepts
To certify cattle, a producer must follow Certification Guidelines (see below) consistent with industry research and value-added programs, as identified by the Montana Beef Network. This same research has identified a significant value associated with these management practices, and the ability to create a pool of cattle with similar preconditioning and backgrounding management. In effect, the Feeder Cattle Certification program is identifying the value, in addition to adding value.
Verification Records (see below) are an important part of identifying this added value, and play an important role in increasing the communication among the various segments of the industry. For those producers interested in receiving information back through these various segments, the MBN is utilizing an electronic (EID) tag or visual tag, to identify and collect data on an individual animal basis.
Montana Beef Network (MBN) Certification Guidelines
Producer must be BQA trained and must complete appropriate program certification documents.
- Cattle must be individually identified with a special MBN supplied tag.
- Minimum Source Verification (MSV) required includes ranch origin, breed combinations, range of ages and health protocol.
- Cattle must be dehorned and males castrated and verified as steers.
- Use or non-use of implants and mineral programs must be documented.
Option A (a preconditioning vaccination program)
- All MBN Certification guidelines met.
- Cattle must be vaccinated between 21 and 60 days prior to weaning, with IBR, BVD, PI-3, BRSV, 7 or 8 way Clostridial, Pasteurella and H. Somnus.
Option B (a 45 day vaccination and backgrounding program)
- All MBN Certification guidelines met.
- Cattle must be vaccinated prior to or at weaning, with IBR, BVD, PI-3, BRSV, Pasteurella and H. Somnus.
- Administer booster immunizations 14-28 days after weaning/pre-weaning immunizations and a minimum of 30 days prior to shipment.
- 7 or 8 way Clostridial must be given once, during either the initial or booster vaccination period.
- Cattle must be held a minimum of 45 days after weaning, prior to shipping. Cattle must be bunk broke.
If purchased from another producer, cattle must be sourced from a BQA certified ranch.
Verification Records
The following records are required to be submitted when animals are tagged with MBN tags:
- Vaccination Records
- Type of Vaccine
- Name of Manufacturer
- Brand Name
- Serial Number
- Lot Number
- Amount Administered (Dose)
- Administrator
- Date of Administration
- Photo copy of vaccine receipts or box tops
- Date of Weaning
- Date of Shipping
Prior to Shipping, MBN personnel need the following information in order to track the animals through the remaining production segments. If we do not have the complete information we cannot follow-up on the animals.
- Feedlot Name
- Feedlot Contact Name
- Address
- Phone Number