Certification Requirements of the North Dakota Beef Quality Assurance Program

General

• Cattle sold as North Dakota Beef Quality Assurance (NDBQA) certified must be processed or treated by NDBQA certified personnel or under the supervision of a person who is NDBQA certified.
• Calves must be uniquely and individually identified, with animal number and operation or ranch identification (NDBQA operation identification number, or ranch brand), at time of treatment or prior to leaving the ranch of origin.
• Individual recertification requirement of 3 years.

Injectable Animal Health Products

• All animal health products labeled for subcutaneous (SC) or intramuscular (IM) administration shall be administered in the neck. NO EXCEPTIONS!
• If a product is label for both SC and IM routes of administration, SC use is preferable.
• No more than 10 cc of product administered per site, with proper spacing of 3 to 4 inches between sites.

Processing and Treatments

• All animals not kept for breeding stock will be dehorned before leaving the ranch of origin.
• All male animals not kept for breeding stock will be castrated before leaving the ranch of origin.
• All animal health products must be used according to label directions.
• Extra-label drug use shall be used only when prescribed by a veterinarian working under a valid Veterinary Client Patient Relationship (VCPR).
• All withdrawal times must be strictly adhered to.

Records

Treatment records will be maintained with the following recorded:

• Individual animal or group identification
• Date treated
• Product administered and manufacturer's lot/serial number
• Dosage used
• Route and location of administration
• Withdrawal period and earliest date animal will have cleared the withdrawal period.

Medicated or feed additives records will be maintained with the following recorded:

• Individual or group identification
• Date treated
• Manufacturer, ration name, and number
• Additive used
• Withdrawal period and earliest date animal will have cleared the withdrawal period

Feedstuffs

• Ruminant-derived protein sources cannot be fed according to FDA regulations.

Feed Additives and Medications

• Only FDA approved medicated feed additives will be used in rations.
• Extra-label use of feed additives is illegal and strictly prohibited.
• To avoid violative residues - withdrawal times must be strictly adhered to.
• Complete records must be kept when formulating or feeding medicated feed rations.
• Records are to be kept a minimum of two years.
• Operator will assure that all additives are withdrawn at the proper time to avoid violative residues.