Natural programs

Affadavit

Ranch, source and feedlot specifications for signed affidavit(s) to accompany cattle to the beef harvest facility

  1. That the cattle while in my custody Ranch/Feedlot have received NO ANTIBIOTICS for therapeutic purposes
  2. That the cattle while in my custody received NO IONOPHORES
  3. That the cattle while in my custody received NO ADDED HORMONES by injection, implant, or feed
  4. That any cattle that did not comply with the above three restrictions were identified when it occurred, and documented when they were removed from group
  5. That the cattle were fed NO ANIMAL BY-PRODUCTS (meat & bone meal, tallow, blood, etc.) or drugs or chemicals (This does not restrict vaccines)
  6. That the cattle while in my custody were raised in a humane manner, following good animal husbandry practices
  7. That the group has remained intact and not commingled with cattle not following these standards


NHTC (Non-Hormone Treated Cattle)

Each location has site-specific procedures to assist with specific requirements outlined in the scope of the Quality System Assessment (QSA).  The following list represents documentation that is unique to individual supplier locations operating under U.S.-verified or approved QSA feedyards. This list is not all inclusive and additional documents will be created, approved and added to the Farm/Ranch Quality Manual.

1. Farm/ranch site specific procedures

NOTE:  http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/nhtcprog.pdf identifies restricted hormonal growth promotants (HGP) on page 8.  Common HGPs include any type of Implant, MGA and Optaflexx

General information

  • Farmers/Ranches/Feedlot must be approved through an initial on-site evaluation by a approved QSA program or a USDA-approved program with NHTC verification as their claim prior to representing cattle as NHTC
  • Animals must be obtained from and traceable to approved companies listed on the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Web site
  • Cattle must be identified with a program compliant tag as close to birth as possible and before they leave the ranch of birth

Segregation

  • If HGPs are used on premise, written procedures are required to prevent cross contamination of NHTC and non-NHTC cattle (i.e., implant inventory, feed separation)
  • Animals must not be administered HGPs at any time during their lifetime


2. Feedyard Site specific procedures

(See General information above in Farm/ranch section)

Receiving

  • NHTC cattle must be approved prior to being received at feedlot
  • Cattle must arrive with unique identification
    • Individual identification (visual tag with calf number or cow number)
    • Unique group identification (brand or visual ranch tags)
  • New identity (lot tag) cross-referenced to previous identification and documented

Segregation

  • When cattle are received, maintain group identity until cattle's source and age-verified status can be confirmed
  • Feedyard must be able to document cattle movement in and out of the lot

Shipping

  • Head counts must be reconciled in the lot file
  • Shipping and transfer documents must accompany each shipment

3. Cattle must meet USDA Standard for HQB (High Quality Beef)

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5062482 http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRD3320450

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