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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