Arizona Youth Livestock Quality Assurance and Food Safety Program

1
Arizona Youth Livestock Quality Assurance and
Food Safety Program

• R. Dean Fish
• Santa Cruz County
• Cooperative Extension

2
History

• April 2002
• Animal Science Department Strategic Planning
  Meeting with agents, specialists, livestock
  organization and industry representatives
  participating. Youth livestock quality assurance
  was identified as a top priority to be
  implemented statewide.

3
History

• August 2002
• Key decision makers invited to a planning session
  to discuss developing a statewide quality
  assurance program. All present agreed on the
  need for a statewide program and that an
  education program be mandatory by 2004
• Currently we have 3,035 youth and adult
  participants and 156 trainers

4
History

• Based on conservative estimates, Arizonas 4,000
  4-H/FFA members enrolled in livestock projects
  produce over 2 million pounds of meat and milk
  each year

5
Why Quality Assurance Training?

• Encourage ethical production of wholesome
  products
• Gain consumer confidence in our meat products
• Increase food safety awareness
• Improve care and management of animals through
  the implementation and practice of the 8 good
  production practices
• Prevention of prohibited drug residues

6
Curriculum

• After extensive review by the team, the Iowa
  4-H/FFA Food Safety and Quality Assurance
  materials were used as the basis for the Arizona
  curriculum
• A Trainers Reference, a Youth Manual and an
  Activity Guide are all part of the offered
  curriculum

7
The 8 Good Production Practices

• Keep Accurate Records
• Identification and production records
• Establish a Veterinary-Client-Patient
  relationship
• Use medications properly
• Follow Healthy Production Practices
• Read and follow all label directions, safe
  storage and delivery and attention to withdrawal
  times
• Proper Care and Handling
• Provide adequate feed, water and environment

8
The 8 Good Production Practices

• Provide Adequate and Safe Feed (according to
  their nutrient requirements)
• Read and follow feed label instructions
• Maintain Biosecurity
• Reduce external/internal vector transmission
• Follow Proper Food Safety Practices
• Provide animals that are safe. Wholesome and high
  quality
• Exhibit Strong Character Traits (ethics)
• Good sportsmanship and character

9
Initial Certification Procedures

• All youth participating in county and state
  livestock shows must be certified
• Certification must be renewed every three years
• Individuals participate in 3 hours of quality
  assurance training
• Includes an overview of the 8 good production
  practices, viewing of two videos (Quality
  Assurance and The Rules are Black and White),
  hands-on activities and each participant receives
  a copy of the youth manual

10
Initial Certification Procedures

• Most counties charge 10.00 to cover the costs of
  the certification training, manual and any other
  materials offered (not mandatory)
• Arizona State Fair is maintaining the database of
  certified participants

11
Re-certification Procedures

• Youth can attend the QA Workshop again, or
• Youth can complete a checklist verifying their
  completion of various activities and demonstrated
  knowledge of the 8 good production practices

12
Website

• Provides an overview of the quality assurance
  program
• Participants can check the website for their
  certification number and expiration date
• Workshops being offered throughout the state are
  listed on the website

13
(No Transcript)
14
Website

• The Resources section provides useful forms and
  fact sheets, PowerPoint presentations from the
  Trainer sessions, and links to related quality
  assurance websites
• The Current Issues section provides links to the
  Arizona Department of Agriculture and the U of A
  Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory

15
(No Transcript)
16
Website

• http//cals.arizona.edu/extension/quality

17
Partners

• Arizona Beef Council
• Arizona Cattle Industry Research Education
  Foundation
• Arizona Cooperative Extension, 4-H Youth
  Development
• Arizona Department of Education, Vocational
  Education

• Arizona Fairs Association
• Arizona Pork Council
• National Pork Board
• NationalPork Producers Council
• Arizona FFA
• Arizona Exposition and State Fair
• National Cattlemens Beef Association

18
Members

• Susan Pater
• Dr. John Marchello
• Dr. Peder Cuneo
• Dr. Bob Kattnig
• Bob Peterson
• Jose Bernal
• James English
• Liz Didier
• Dennis Fiscus
• Larry Tibbs
• Dennis Bushong
• Ken Johnson

• Dr. Bill Peterson
• Kim Gressley
• Tim Kock
• Gerald Moore
• Jan Norquest
• Curt Peters
• Dr. Bill Schurg
• Stephanie Sproul
• Brent Strickland
• Nancy Thelen
• Gilbert Zamudio

19
Future

• Train the Trainer workshop to certify more
  trainers
• Publication of drug testing guidelines/protocol
  for livestock shows
• Publication and dissemination of the
  re-certification process for youth and adult
  participants
• Certification process for trainers

20
Thanks!