What's It Mean to a Cow-Calf Producer?

Part one of a four-part National Beef Quality Audit series.

by Troy Smith

Tom Woodward thinks the National Beef Quality Audit is influencing the culture of cattle folk. It has at Broseco Ranch, near Omaha, Texas, where Woodward is general manager. Results of the latest audit were discussed at the 2012 Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Research Symposium April 18-21, in Houston, Texas. Speaking during the symposium's second general session, Woodward talked about what previous national audits mean to cow-calf producers.

Woodward said the audits have helped cow-calf operators embrace the principles of Beef Quality Assurance (BQA). He thinks more of them have changed their ways of thinking — from that of ranchers marketing pounds of cattle to that of food producers.

They're more concerned about how the end product — beef — is perceived by consumers. To the consumer, said Woodward, "perception is reality."

Likening the beef production chain to a relay race, Woodward said each segment represents a member of a team running toward a goal of quality control. Each member of the team runs a leg of the race.

"As a cow-calf producer, I'm the first man with the baton. If I don't run well, it can ruin the chances of other guys," said Woodward. "More cow-calf producers are realizing that they're the ones that start the race."

They might make a good start with good genetics and nutrition, but Woodward believes it takes more. He noted the need for attention to health and proper cattle handling practices. If a beef quality problem arises somewhere on down the chain, he wants to be sure it wasn't because of anything that happened on his ranch.

"We train our employees to do things right. We follow BQA recommendations and do the best job we can, knowing the job is never over," said Woodward. "That's now part of our culture."

To see the other three parts of this series, visit the newsroom at www.BIFconference.com.

Editor's Note: The above article was written under contract or by staff of Angus Productions Inc. (API) as part of its event coverage of the 2012 Beef Improvement Federation, all of which may be found in the newsroom at www.bifconference.com. For questions about this site, to submit an article for our consideration, or to report a broken link, contact the editor at 816-383-5200; 3201 Frederick Ave., Saint Joseph, MO 64506.