Montana Branded Beef Association (MBBA)

Source & Age Verification

MBBA members assess themselves a $3 per head enrollment fee on calves marketed through the MBBA program. This enrollment fee includes the costs of obtaining source and age verification through IMI Global’s USDA Process Verified (PVP) Supplier Evaluation Program.

In today’s changing domestic and international marketplace, beef consumers are demanding more information on the origin and production practices used to raise and manufacture the food products they consume everyday. Source and age verification through an accredited USDA PVP or Quality Systems Assessment (QSA) program allows MBBA members access to the opportunity to participate in a greater share of those informed consumers’ food purchase dollars.

Through its relationship with IMI Global, MBBA and its members may:
• Document and verify the origin of each of the animals enrolled by a member in the MBBA program
• Document and verify the age of each of those animals enrolled in the program
• Track and preserve the unique individual or group identity of MBBA cattle as they move through each of the program’s production phases, from ranch to harvest, and ultimately to retail.

For the $3/head enrollment fee, MBBA can work with its members to:
• Complete the necessary forms, and assemble the appropriate supporting documentation, to source and age verify calves
• Direct those calves to a QSA or PVP certified feedlot, where no program-specific tagging requirement is needed.
• Obtain a nested pair of program specific tags, if calves are not destined for a QSA or PVP certified destination. (The additional cost of program specific tags will be born by the MBBA member).
• Maintain copies of all forms and documentation at MBBA’s offices, while forwarding the original copies, to IMI Global for review and processing. IMI Global’s fee will be born by MBBA.
• Assist members, feeders, and IMI Global in updating the forms and documentation as marketing transactions occur.