Established nearly 30 years ago, the Beef Quality Assurance program, was the beef industry's answer in addressing quality concerns present at that time. Initially, the program was meant to educate producers on best practices relevant in cattle handling for the purpose of reducing the incidents of injection site lesions when administering vaccinations. Today, thanks to an undisputed record of measurable success, the program continues and has evolved with the industry over the years to address other areas within modern beef production where further improvements can be made, such as cattle health, biosecurity and transportation.

Chase DeCoite, director of the BQA program for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, sat down with us recently to talk about the BQA and its continued success as it has evolved into what he describes as a "total cattle management program."

"We've learned that from the way you handle your cattle to how you use those cattle health products and the records you keep, can improve meat quality," DeCoite said. "It's very impressive how the industry has really wrapped its arms around BQA and adopted those practices."

DeCoite says it is not just for producers either - consumers appreciate the program too because it instills in them confidence toward the US beef industry and products they purchase.

To listen to our complete conversation over the success of the BQA program, from last Friday's Beef Buzz - click here.