Process Verified Program, that is
- by Merridee Wells
- Photo by Sage Pool
Process Verified Programs, or PVP’s as they are commonly called, are another of the many new-fangled phrases which are becoming commonplace in our cattle industry today. Breed associations draw them like a gun while marketing programs dazzle you with their PVP requirements and the auction companies brag on their value-added benefits.
Bottom line however is “what’s in it for me”? As a cow/calf producer evaluating expenses you have to ask and answer the question: Is the associated cost offset by a higher return? We hope the following information will help explain what PVP’s are, and then illustrate how they can be incorporated into your program on the ranch to achieve greater profitability.
By accessing the website: www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/processverified, you can get the official description of what PVP’s are, as well as a link that brings up a 24-page document with a listing of over 30 USDA approved PVP’s. Familiar names like JBS, Farmland, Smithfield, and Tyson representing America’s largest harvesting and processing outfits; beef breed associations like American Angus, Red Angus, and International Brangus Breeders are there, too; and genetic companies such as Pfizer Animal Genetics, and ABS Global all have USDA-approved PVP’s.
It’s about the claim
While each of the represented PVP’s goals are different, the commonality is that by being a USDA-approved PVP the represented companies that supply agricultural products and services can assure customers of their ability to provide consistent quality products and services. Documentation supporting specific quality management systems must accompany each of these PVP’s.
Companies with USDA-approved PVP’s are able to make marketing claims associated with their process verified point. These include age, source, feeding practices or other raising and processing claims, and these companies may use the “USDA Process Verified” shield and term.
Dr. William Herring, Director of Global Technical Services, Pfizer Animal Genetics, explains what processes Pfizer’s PVP verifies. “Our PVP deals with how we preserve our genetic samples, how we handle genetic analysis for parentage, DNA traceability, genetic markers, and how this information is evaluated. USDA certifies that we follow this same protocol each time and, via auditing and recertification, our customers have the satisfaction of knowing that we do have specific guidelines we follow.”
Producers may be more familiar with PVP programs implemented by breed associations in order to assist with marketing of sire-identified cattle like the one available through the Red Angus Association of America (RAAA). Their Feeder Calf Certification Program (FCCP) assures customers who are purchasing feeder calves wearing their official yellow hang tag/and or RFID tags that the calves are:
- · Traceable to at least 50% Red Angus bloodlines
- · Source Verified to Ranch of Origin
- · Group Age Verified
Producers who participate in this program have access to special feeder calf sales, can list their cattle on marketing websites; and of course many of the calves would also work for a variety of grid-based marketing programs.
“One of the places we see where these FCCP calves have increased demand is through the special video auctions sponsored by Superior, Northern Livestock Video Auction, Cattle Country Video and Western Video Market,” explains Clint Berry, Commercial Marketing Director for RAAA. “In fact, it’s conservative to say that Red Angus calves with the FCCP tags bring from $2-3/per hundredweight more than the non-tagged calves. It gives the buyer verification of source, age and genetic makeup, which they can parlay into more dollars because these cattle fit into grid marketing programs with these requirements and of course, the traceability to superior genetics is valuable for those who feed these cattle.”
Participating producers must provide RAAA with transferred registrations, lease agreements or semen purchase invoices in order to certify calves are sired by a registered Red Angus bull, or bill of sale on purchased bred females. They must also provide age verification via calving books or records.
Through program enrollment the RAAA maintains producer records. The Certificate of Compliance (COC) that is generated after RAAA receives all documentation is available to the producer. A copy is kept on file by RAAA and documents may also be forwarded to feedlots, livestock markets, order buyers, video reps, etc., who may have need of the information for program compliance.
The International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA) has a USDA PVP called OptimaxX. It is a program that is set up to assist ranchers using IBBA registered bulls to get the most value from the calves by source, age, and genetic verification. Lindsey Matli, Customer Service Representative with the IBBA, says, “The OptimaxX program requires that the calves be tagged on the ranch of origin, and that the birth date of the oldest calf in the group be submitted. The paperwork is fairly simple, and producers can give us a call and we can walk them through it, no problem.”
The American Angus Association’s AngusSource™ is a PVP that has two tiers available for enrollment. The first tier, AngusSource™ (AS), is for Angus-sired calves and documents source, group age and a minimum of 50% Angus genetics. All calves must be sired by a registered Angus bull, enrolled by the ranch of origin, and have a known group age of month/day/year.
The second tier is Gateway (GW), which has no genetic requirements. GW documents source and group age only. All calves must be enrolled by the ranch of origin and have a known group age of month/day/year.
Producers enrolling AS or GW calves must also complete Producer Training and evaluation which is conducted via phone and is done with each enrollment. Additionally some management practices may require an on-site review prior to completion of cattle enrollment.
Like the RAAA, enrolled cattle must wear an official AS or GW hang and/or RFID tag which are sold to producers at similar cost to those available from Red Angus.
Ginnette Kurtz, AngusSource Quality Manager for the American Angus Association, handles the day-to-day enrollment and fields questions regarding this popular program.
“Producers most generally have the records and management practices to enroll,” explains Kurtz. “They just need to complete the paperwork, go through the enrollment/training and provide copies of their records to have the opportunity for higher returns, because their cattle will have more marketing flexibility. However, just because calves carry an AngusSource or Gateway tag does not mean the calves can be fed and harvested anywhere to qualify for age-verified premiums. We are the first step in the process. The feedyard and the packer must also be enrolled in a USDA program.”
Other options
Additionally, PVP’s may require specific management and/or feeding practice or may verify state of origin or harvesting.
Several companies with USDA-approved PVP’s claim their cattle meet the Never Ever 3 (NE3) requirements which specifies that cattle have received no antibiotics, no growth promotants and have never been fed any animal by-products (for a detailed description of the NE3 program see www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/processverified).
Other feeding and management practices included in several PVP’s demonstrate program participants have cattle that are grass-fed; non-hormone treated verified beef cattle (NHTC), or guaranteed corn-fed cattle, among other criteria.
Some are state-specific such as the Emma Farms Colorado Certified Wagyu which requires cattle to be Colorado-raised (reside in Colorado at least six months prior to harvest) and be Colorado harvested. There is also a Nebraska-verified, where cattle must be born and/or born and fed in the State of Nebraska.
Producers interested in marketing cattle that qualify for a PVP should do their homework, and there might be plenty of it. Through research with various breed associations, harvesting and processing facilities, and on-line research, cattlemen can discover which programs might best be utilized to enhance the marketing of their cattle. Enrollment, compliance with the requirements of the PVP, and then finding a market that pays dividends for these value-added enhancements can’t be accomplished overnight; however, the added costs and labor may well pay big dividends.
