The National Beef Quality Audit identified and quantified the quality defects that result in compromised consumer confidence and reduced profitability potential for all beef-related industries. The quality defects that were identified in the National Beef Quality Audit impair beef's competitiveness with other muscle foods and minimize cattle producers return on investment. Beef Quality Excellence in Texas encompasses an array of educational activities aimed at the consistent production of high quality beef products raised or fed in Texas.
The flagship educational activity for this effort is entitled Beef 706. Each session of Beef 706 involves approximately 30 key invited leaders from various segments of the beef industry. They learn about the importance of producing a more consistent and high quality beef product through a series of hands-on lessons presented by various meat science faculty, staff and graduate students. For example, the participants are divided into groups, allowed to select live cattle (through video) and then follow those cattle through grading and a hands-on cutting session which allows the participants a chance to experience first-hand the differences encountered in carcass composition. Their resulting information is then evaluated in terms of the value differences calculated between animals and how that translates back to value differences in the live animals that are not typically relayed to the producer under a traditional beef marketing scenario.
Another important objective of this program is to provide a forum that will allow these leaders from the various sectors of the beef industry to come together to discuss beef quality challenges. Several quality partnerships have been developed and some very large companies have initiated quality excellence purchasing and marketing programs.
For more details regarding Beef 706, contact Dan Hale, Texas A&M or Jason Bagley, Texas Beef Council.
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