A comprehensive study that evaluates the nation’s efforts to enhance beef quality is nearing completion. Results will be distributed at the cattle industry’s summer conference in July. The 2011 National Beef Quality Audit (NBQA), conducted every five years since 1991, assesses progress the industry makes on a variety of production issues that ultimately affect consumer demand for beef.

It is funded through the Beef Checkoff Program.

The research began in 2011 and includes three stages:

  • Phase I included more than 200 face-to-face interviews with individuals from every segment of the beef production and marketing chain
  • Phase II included an in-plant survey involving eight harvest facilities and about 18,000 cattle observations across the U.S.
  • Phase III was a benchmark survey of seedstock, cow/calf, stocker and feedyard segments of the industry. A three-day strategy session involving representatives of every segment of the U.S. beef chain helped provide additional analysis of, and industry direction for, collected data.

Among the issues covered in the research were beef tenderness and taste, food safety, beef quality, production practices, purchasing considerations, animal welfare, and channel communications and transparency.

Those assisting in the research included Texas A&M University, Colorado State University, Oklahoma State University, Texas Tech University, Pennsylvania State University, West Texas A&M University, Cal Poly State University, USDA-Agricultural Marketing Service and USDA-Meat Animal Research Center. PD

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—From Beef Checkoff News