Agricultural Quality Assessment Division QAD 1060D Checklist

Marketing 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Stop 0258 June 1, 2019

Service Washington, DC 20250 Page 1 of 2 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. 

Date Issued: 02/14/18 Approved by __________JW

Animal Welfare and Beef Cattle Production Systems Checklist

 Audit the Program against the following Program requirements:

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS – OIE’s Terrestrial Animal Health Code, Animal Welfare and Beef

Cattle Production Systems

(1) Identify animal welfare scheme program documents and sections that address each criterion. 

(2) Explanations and/or comments must be provided to provide enough evidence of conformance or 

non-conformance, as applicable.

OIE’s Terrestrial Animal Health 

Code, Animal Welfare and Beef Cattle 

Production Systems Criteria

Applicant 

Reference 

Document

Conform

(Y/N?)

Objective Evidence/Findings/

Remarks

1.0 Biosecurity and Animal Health

1.1 Cattle health programs SHOULD address:

a. Identification of sick or injured cattle

b. Appropriate cattle health monitoring

c. Appropriate vaccination and 

treatment protocols for prevention 

and treatment of cattle diseases

d. Treatment and care of chronic, 

injured or non-ambulatory cattle

e. When services of a veterinarian 

should be sought

f. Humane euthanasia plans

1.2 Producers SHOULD regularly monitor 

morbidity and mortality rates.

2.0 Stocking Density, Housing, Environment and Protection

2.1 Stocking density SHOULD be managed 

such that crowding does not adversely affect 

the ability of cattle to lie down, rest, move

freely without the risk of injuries move freely 

to access feed and water, or socialization.

2.2 Confined cattle SHOULD have access to 

proper lighting and ventilation for effective 

heat dissipation and to minimize risk of 

disease. 

2.3 Concrete flooring, SHOULD be 

maintained to prevent injury or lameness in 

cattle.

2.4 Cattle SHOULD be protected from 

predators.

2.5 Whenever possible, exposure of cattle to 

sudden or loud noises SHOULD be 

minimized.

3.0 Nutrition: Feed and Water

3.1 Cattle SHOULD be provided access to 

appropriate nutrition that meets their 

physiological needs based on weather, age, 

physiological status, body condition scores 

and others. Care should be taken to prevent 

digestive upset of cattle, micronutrient 

deficiencies or toxicities.
Agricultural Quality Assessment Division QAD 1060D Checklist

Marketing 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Stop 0258 June 1, 2019

Service Washington, DC 20250 Page 2 of 2 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. 

Date Issued: 02/14/18 Approved by __________JW

3.2 Cattle SHOULD have access to water that 

meets their physiological requirements and 

meets water quality and safety standards.

4.0 Management

4.1 Producers SHOULD develop and 

document breeding programs to enhance cattle 

health and well-being.

4.1.1 Pregnant cows and heifers SHOULD be 

managed during pregnancy so as to not 

become too fat or too thin, except in the 

presence of unavoidable environmental 

conditions.

4.2 Beef cattle producers SHOULD document 

their weaning program including age of calves 

and weaning method implemented.

4.3 Husbandry practices and procedures 

SHOULD be documented. Care should be 

taken to minimize pain and stress to the calf. 

These practices could include:

a. Castration

b. Dehorning/disbudding

c. Ovariectomy

d. Weaning

4.4 Routine tail docking SHOULD not occur.

4.5 In intensive farming systems, cattle 

SHOULD be inspected at least once a day

4.6 Equipment for handling and restraining 

beef cattle SHOULD be maintained and used 

in a way that minimizes the risk of injury, 

pain or distress.

4.7 Races, chutes and pens SHOULD be free 

from sharp edges and protrusions to prevent 

injury to cattle.

4.8 Mechanical and electrical devices used in 

housing facilities SHOULD be safe for cattle.

5.0 Personnel Training

5.1 All people responsible for beef cattle care

SHOULD be trained in accordance with their 

responsibilities to understand and address

cattle husbandry, behavior, biosecurity, 

general signs of disease, indicators of poor 

animal welfare and euthanasia.

6.0 Emergency Plans

6.1 Where the failure of power, water and 

feed supply systems, beef producers 

SHOULD have contingency plans to cover the 

failure of these systems. 

6.2 Plans SHOULD be in place to minimize 

and mitigate the effects of conditions such as 

heat stress, cold stress, drought, blizzard, fire 

and flooding on cattle health and well-being.

7.0 Euthanasia

7.1 Euthanasia SHOULD be practiced to 

relieve cattle suffering.

Note: When this checklist is complete, print to ADOBE and add to the audit documentation.