Dairy Animal Care and Quality Assurance Program

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Pennsylvania's dairy producer organizations, industry stakeholders, university extension and the PA Department of Agriculture are working collaboratively with the PA Beef Council to roll out the Dairy Animal Care and Quality Assurance Program (DACQA). A farm-to-fork effort to bolster consumer confidence in dairy, DACQA has been designed to meet the umbrella guidelines and principles outlined in the National Dairy Animal Well-Being Intiative. It tailors existing Dairy Beef Quality Assurance Certification programs specifically for dairy producers.

DACQA Mission: To produce quality dairy and beef products for consumers by focusing dairy producers' attention on quality animal care through the use of science, research and education initiatives.

To view a promotional brochure about the DACQA program, click here. 

Click here to view a new brochure that discusses Livestock and Poultry Mortality and Disposal in Pennsylvania.

DACQA Certification Manual

The DACQA certification manual is a comprehensive producer resource that represents the DACQA program's core elements. This manual is used in the training and certification process. A hard copy of this manual is available by calling 1-888-4BEEFPA. Below are the individual sections of the manual
(version drafted August 13, 2008):

Cover page and Preface
Section 1: Introduction
Section II: Guidelines
Section III: Quality Assured Marketing Decisions
Section IV:
    -- A: Pharmaceuticul Use and Administration
    -- B: Dairy Animal Health & Husbandry (PART 1)
    -- B: Dairy Animal Health & Husbandry (PART 2)
    -- B: Dairy Animal Health & Husbandry (PART 3)
    -- C: Management of Feedstuffs and Nutrition
    -- D: Cattle Care and Handling Guide
    -- E: Identification and Record Keeping
Section V: DACQA Certification Process

The following forms are included in the guide to provide documentation of the producer's well-being efforts.

Veterinarian validation form
Market calf checklist form
Market cow checklist form
Medication reporting form

For more information:

The Dairy Animal Care and Quality Assurance program is being administered through the:

Pennsylvania Beef Quality Assurance Program
Chris Jeffcoat, Director of BQA and Industry Relations
PA Beef Council
Phone: 1-888-4BEEFPA
E-mail: cjeffcoat@pabeef.org

Program development was supported by:
Professional Dairy Managers of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Dairy Stakeholders
Pennsylvania Center for Dairy Excellence
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
Pennsylvania State University
University of Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Beef Quality Assurance Commission and Staff
The Pennsylvania Beef Council
The National Cattlemen's Beef Association

Funding is being provided by: