Montana Branded Beef Association (MBBA)

Feedyard Protocol

• Cattle must be BQA certified and have a Source Verification Certificate, which includes information on individual animal identification number(s), birthdate(s), ranch of origin, certification that feed has been free of ruminant animal by-products and prohibited mammalian tissues, vaccination and antibiotic history, diagnostic record, and implant history.
• The feedlot will notify MMBA and the member/owner of cattle ready for delivery two weeks prior to actual delivery.  Source and Age verification paperwork will be filled out and submitted to MBBA as a vital component of scheduling animals for harvest.  Feedlot management is encouraged to communicate with member/owners frequently to provide updates on feed performance.
• Cattle will be handled humanely with emphasis being placed on maintaining animals that are healthy, sound and fit to enter the human food supply.
• Veterinary services must be provided or confirmed ay an independent consulting veterinarian (i.e.; one that not a pharmaceutical representative or supplier so as to avoid conflicts of interest).
• Processing and treatment procedures should meet current industry standards or be approved by authorized MBBA personnel.
• Feedlot and corresponding EID tags will be used to monitor animals for treatment or retreatment, re-implantation, for use for assurance that drug withdrawal requirements are met prior to harvest or sale.
• Calves not already having EID tags at the time of arrival at the feedlot will be tagged with EID tags. 
• Feedlot tags will be cross-referenced with individual EID tags to provide for ease of replacement if lost or unreadable.
• “Realizer” or non-ambulatory animals will be sold or destroyed at the discretion of feedlot management.  Owner approval will be obtained, if possible.  Every effort will be made to assure the safety human food supply.
• A port mortem inspection and analysis should be performed on all questionable deaths.  An owner may request this on all deaths of cattle under his ownership, and may be expected to pay a fee for this service.
• The feedlot will periodically submit tissue samples from non-posted deaths for lab analysis.
• The feedlot will provide detailed information on morbidity, mortality, re-pull rate, lab results, non-ambulatory, and “realizers” in closeout reports.
• Nutrition counsel should be readily available and provided by an independent or feedlot employed nutritionist.  Nutritionists employed by a supplement, additive, or implant manufacturer or supplier may not be used so as to avoid conflicts of interest.
• Sampling and testing of all commodities used in ration formulation should be completed and confirmed periodically through wet chemistry analysis.  Results must be readily available upon request.
• Feedlots will maintain scales in compliance with all applicable state laws.
• Sampling and testing of the feedlot water supply should be completed periodically.
• Feedlots will feed additives (i.e.; Vitamin E, Bovamine, etc) as required in harvest protocols for MBBA managed cattle.
• A final implant shall be placed in cattle 80 to 100 days prior to the estimated harvest date.  If a non-implant program is available, individual members/owners may have the discretion to participate.  Withdrawal periods will be monitored to assure animals are not shipped prior to the withdrawal period elapsing. 
• Monthly feedlot billings, commodity costs and charges, yardage charges, veterinary service and supply expenses, and other itemized charges will be delivered to the customer in a timely fashion.
• The feedlot will complete and deliver to the member/owner and MBBA a closeout on the total group of cattle in a timely fashion following harvest of the last animal in the group.
• Feedlots will take steps to assure that use of timely ultrasound measurements are available as a management tool is desired and requested.
• Ultrasound measurements should be done at the time of final implantation, or closer to the harvest date, for both calf-feds and yearlings.
• Feedlots will analyze ultrasound results and prior feed performance and consult with member/owners and MBBA relative to potential premiums and discounts for quality grade and yield grade potential.
• Feedlots will analyze ultrasound results to identify outliers (i.e.; estimated YG 4’s & 5’s, standards, commercials, and selects if discounts are too deep.  Feedlots will note the tag numbers and sell those animals on a live basis at the yard.
• Cattle may be co-mingled for “pot-load” efficiency at the time of harvest.  No other co-mingling of cattle will occur except in instances where animals are placed in a hospital pen or when a feedlot has the consent of the owner/member.
• All cattle will be weighed individually at the time of first processing and final implantation.  Individual weights will be sent to the MBBA at the time of harvest.

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