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Contact Veterinary Extension: Russ Daly, DVM Extension Veterinarian (605) 688-6589 |
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PVP’s (Process Verified Programs) for SD Producers |
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PVP’s Available to SD Calf Producers: Background Information Russ Daly, extension veterinarian; Nicole Kriz, Lori Rotert, pre-vet students; SDSU (Click here to view the PVP Chart) The opening of the export market to Japan for cattle under 21 months of age may end up being an opportunity for some South Dakota cattle raisers to add value to their calf crop. In order to accomplish this, their calves need to be age verified through programs already in place through the USDA. In most cases, when cattle are age-verified, through birth dates, they are also verified to a particular source (or farm), thus the term “age-and-source verified”. Veterinarians become involved with age and source verification in several ways. First and foremost, veterinarians are frequently involved in marketing decisions and are looked to for advice concerning adding value to their calf crop. Secondly, some “PVP’s” (defined below) directly involve veterinarians in enrolling cattle in their programs. Some of these PVP’s also track vaccinations and other health-related procedures in addition to age and source. Currently, cattle with age and source verification may bring a premium in many markets, variably estimated at $25 per head in some cases. This premium is by no means a guarantee, and is subject to many variables, but depending on the market and buyer, may represent a tangible way to add value to a calf crop.
Background – Meat products eligible for export to Japan (or other countries) must meet a set of product requirements for that particular country called a BEV, or Beef Export Verification. The suppliers of these products must be part of a QSA (Quality Systems Assessment) program or PVP (Process Verified Program) approved by USDA (further defined below) that meets all of the requirements of the export market. For example, Japan will require that products be from animals 20 months of age or younger at harvest, and be from cattle individually identified and traceable back to the ranch of origin.
QSA vs. PVP --Quality Systems Assessments (QSA’s) and Process Verified Programs (PVP’s) are similar in that they may qualify cattle for export. Both QSA’s and PVP’s are subject to audits by the USDA, and as such, each program performs systematic audits of its enrolled producers. In addition, USDA may audit individual producers in the course of their audits of the PVP. QSA programs usually only document age and source verification. In most cases these QSA programs are administered by a particular packer or feedlot. As a result, enrollment in a QSA program limits a producer to marketing cattle only to that packer or feedlot. PVP’s on the other hand, often will verify age and source of cattle but also can make other claims about the product, such as all-natural claims, use of a certain health program, raised and fed in South Dakota, etc. When a PVP is established to include these other claims, their program needs to audit the producer’s records relative to those claims also, not just age and source of the cattle. Many PVP’s require on-site evaluations of newly enrolled producers before their approval in the PVP. Many PVP’s are independent of a particular marketing chain. This means the enrolled producer will have more flexibility in whom they can market their cattle to. As such, enrollment in a PVP will be the preferred route for most South Dakota cattle producers. In the chart that follows, we have attempted to list those PVP’s available to our state’s producers and outline some of their attributes. These programs are very dynamic at the present time and producers and veterinarians should contact the PVP representative to confirm information as it changes. While individual identification of animals is a necessity for most PVP’s, there is no link between these programs and the National Animal Identification System (NAIS). NAIS, when implemented, will only be used as a disease trace-back mechanism and will not be accessible by private parties. Many, but not all, PVP’s will require an electronic identification (EID) tag in the calf. This will enhance the downstream flow of information as the PVP-enrolled calf makes its way through the feeding-slaughter chain. Many producers currently sign affidavits attesting to the age and source of their calves at marketing. It is important to realize that simple signing of these affidavits does not constitute enrollment in a particular PVP. PVP enrollment also includes the auditing and record evaluation functions.
PVP’s Available to South Dakota Cattle Producers The information in the accompanying chart is current as of October 29,2007 (basic information re-checked 12/11/07), and reflects information provided to us by the individual programs. Much effort was made to indicate accurate information, but since these are evolving programs, this information should be re-confirmed with the individual PVP’s before the decision to enroll is made. All PVP’s listed are similar in that they provide age and source verification of calves sold from a ranch. All of them have their own enrollment procedures, most of which require an on-site visit and examination of records. They vary as to requirements for electronic identification, cost of enrollment, and assistance provided in marketing calves. It is also important to realize that when programs sell tags to enrolled producers, some only sell tags in lots of 10 or 25, for example, while others may sell the exact number a producer needs. PVP’s listed were taken from the website http://processverified.usda.gov. Not every PVP listed on the website is included in this chart; only the ones that provide age and source verification and reasonably open to South Dakota producers and those with flexibility in marketing and feeding calves were included. Updated information on those and new PVP’s will be maintained at this site. Producers and veterinarians are also encouraged to keep updated by checking www.processverified.usda.gov.
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