recognized voice of the cattle feeding industry
The impact of government actions on cattle feeders is significant and undeniable. Decision makers in Washington and around the state capitols know who we are and what we stand for. We work tirelessly to ensure that cattle feeders views are taken into account as issues are debated, bills are passed and regulations are adopted.
The government relations staff works independently and alongside coalitions on all policy issues that affect our industry, including international trade, tax and credit issues, food safety, animal health and welfare, property rights, environment, renewable energy, marketing, nutrition and much more.
The government relations staff works independently and alongside coalitions on all policy issues that affect our industry, including international trade, tax and credit issues, food safety, animal health and welfare, property rights, environment, renewable energy, marketing, nutrition and much more.
Alternative Proteins
Consumers love real beef. It is no surprise that imitation products try to ride the coattails of beef's popularity through misleading labels. Plant-based and lab-grown alternative proteins should be held to the same food safety and accurate labeling standards as real beef.
TCFA supports federal and state legislation to ensure the proper use of standards of identity on food product labels to prevent consumer confusion and ensure the orderly and efficient marketing of agricultural and livestock products. |
Consumer FactConsumers are confused by labels. Two-thirds of respondents in a recent consumer study believed fake meat products contained real beef or some form of animal byproduct. TCFA supports USDA oversight of the inspection and labeling of alternative protein products.
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Animal Care
TCFA members take great pride in their animals and work hard to ensure that they are healthy and cared for properly. Scientific training, personal experience and professional judgment all serve as the foundation for day-to-day animal husbandry decisions on a feedyard. These decisions impact the well-being of cattle, individual animal health and herd productivity — all crucial components to a feedyard’s ability to remain in business.
When it comes to animal health, TCFA member feedyards consult closely with veterinarians and nutritionists to ensure the highest level of animal care. Cattle care factHealthy cattle begin with proper nutrition. Whether out on grass or in a feedyard, cattlemen and women work with professional nutritionists to make sure cattle receive the right balance of energy, protein, vitamins and minerals. |
Cattle Care Fact96% of TCFA feedyard capacity is certified under TCFA's BQA program. In order to be certified, feedyards must meet strict requirements and undergo an audit by TCFA and be verified by a third-party expert. TCFA was the first state cattlemen’s association to implement a Beef Safety and Quality Assurance Program (BQA). The program serves as the foundation for the national beef quality assurance program. The program is rooted in science-based animal care practices that encompass nutrition programs, veterinary care, animal handling, and the judicious use of antibiotics as prescribed by a veterinarian.
TCFA supports policies that promote industry-driven, science-based animal care programs like the BQA program. Such policies should make tools and technologies available to allow cattle feeders to continue to do what they do best — provide safe and wholesome beef. |
Animal Disease Traceability
An end-to-end, individual animal traceability system minimizes the economic impact of a disease outbreak event by strengthening animal health officials’ ability to contain a disease outbreak and enabling the industry to keep the cattle/beef supply chain moving and quickly recover access to foreign markets.
TCFA supports cattle disease traceability because protecting America’s beef cattle industry is our priority.
TCFA alongside other Texas cattle industry partners conducted a two-year Disease Traceability and Value-Added Data Pilot that enrolled around 100,000 head with 75 unique sources of origin from at least seven states. Stay tuned for a report on the project. Learnings from this pilot and other voluntary, industry-driven traceability efforts across the United States led to the creation of U.S. CattleTrace, a system built on the Kansas cattle traceability pilot, CattleTrace. U.S. CattleTrace is poised to be the most effective, voluntary disease traceability system currently in place for the U.S. cattle industry. Click here to learn more and do your part in protecting the herd by prioritizing disease traceability.
TCFA supports cattle disease traceability because protecting America’s beef cattle industry is our priority.
TCFA alongside other Texas cattle industry partners conducted a two-year Disease Traceability and Value-Added Data Pilot that enrolled around 100,000 head with 75 unique sources of origin from at least seven states. Stay tuned for a report on the project. Learnings from this pilot and other voluntary, industry-driven traceability efforts across the United States led to the creation of U.S. CattleTrace, a system built on the Kansas cattle traceability pilot, CattleTrace. U.S. CattleTrace is poised to be the most effective, voluntary disease traceability system currently in place for the U.S. cattle industry. Click here to learn more and do your part in protecting the herd by prioritizing disease traceability.
Dietary Guidelines
Our nation’s dietary guidelines are of critical importance to both beef producers and consumers. Factual, science-based guidelines are imperative for healthy decisions. The top priority for cattle feeders is to produce the safest, most nutritious and affordable beef in the world, and our industry has a long history of supporting nutrition research to answer nutrition-based questions for consumers who enjoy beef as part of a healthy and balanced diet.
Nutrition factsProtein, iron, zinc and B vitamins found in beef play an essential role in developing and maintaining cognitive ability in children and adults. Research consistently shows a role for lean beef in a heart healthy diet and lifestyle. A cooked, 3 oz. beef top sirloin steak averages 156 calories while providing approximately 25 grams of protein. |
nutrition factsA major study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine recommends that people continue eating red mean, and that cutting back on red and processed meats has little impact on health. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans play an important role in helping people choose and enjoy foods that can improve their health, and it is imperative the guidelines be based on sound science and reflect the latest nutrition evidence.
There is significant scientific evidence to support the inclusion of lean red meat, like nutrient-rich beef, in greater quantities as part of a healthy diet. TCFA supports national food policy and dietary guidelines based on sound, peer-reviewed science that reflects the latest nutrition evidence. The process should remain focused on human nutrition and a balanced diet. |
Food Safety
The U.S. has the safest food supply in the world — with multiple interlocking safeguards and extensive, daily product inspections by government officials. Producers and processors continue to invest a significant amount of time and money on scientific research to improve beef quality and safety.
TCFA supports continued cooperation between USDA and FDA and opposes the creation of a single food safety agency that would grant FDA additional authority to conduct inspections on ranches and the regulatory responsibilities over meat and meat products currently held by USDA.
TCFA supports continued cooperation between USDA and FDA and opposes the creation of a single food safety agency that would grant FDA additional authority to conduct inspections on ranches and the regulatory responsibilities over meat and meat products currently held by USDA.
Labor
Feedyards create jobs that support rural communities.
One of the biggest issues facing feedyards is finding and retaining skilled workers. TCFA has initiated and recognized programs, including the TCFA Feedyard Technician Program, to help identify and train a future feedyard workforce. Ensuring the safety of feedyard employees remains a top priority. TCFA has dedicated and trained employees who provide onsite safety training for thousands of feedyard employees each year. TCFA supports meaningful immigration reform that both strengthens border security and creates a non-seasonal, temporary worker program that does not extend preferential treatment with regard to citizenship. TCFA also supports the development of uniform, tamper resistant federal documentation that will enable employers to easily verify the immigration status of prospective employees. |
feedyard job factsOver 57% of feedyard managers say they have difficulty hiring employees. A typical feedyard employs 30 people and has an average payroll of $1.25 million. TCFA's Feedyard Technician Program equips over 250 students each year with the skills needed to begin a career in the feedyard industry. This program is recognized by the Texas Education Agency. |
Property Rights
TCFA adamantly supports private property rights and works with other agriculture groups to enact stronger statutory and constitutional landowner protections at the state and federal levels.
TCFA supports the rule of capture and believes that groundwater is the real, vested property of private landowners with limited, reasonable regulations based on sound scientific principles. Regulations should be developed by locally elected groundwater conservation districts to ensure beneficial future use.
TCFA supports the rule of capture and believes that groundwater is the real, vested property of private landowners with limited, reasonable regulations based on sound scientific principles. Regulations should be developed by locally elected groundwater conservation districts to ensure beneficial future use.
Sustainability
Modern U.S. beef production defines sustainability, which is why TCFA has been an influential voice in discussions surrounding "beef sustainability.” TCFA's goal in these discussions is to represent the interests of cattle feeders, with an emphasis on economic sustainability. For decades, TCFA members have maintained a strong focus and commitment to the other two elements of sustainability, environmental stewardship and community responsibility.
In 2010, the TCFA Board adopted a statement on "Sustainable Growth."
"TCFA defines sustainable growth as a balanced system of animal production that (1) provides a reliable source of safe, wholesome and affordable food for a growing world population; (2) optimizes animal health, animal well-being and productivity through the use of modern technology; (3) conserves the environment and natural resources for current and future generations; (4) provides jobs and supports local communities; and (5) provides for return on investment and industry growth."
In 2010, the TCFA Board adopted a statement on "Sustainable Growth."
"TCFA defines sustainable growth as a balanced system of animal production that (1) provides a reliable source of safe, wholesome and affordable food for a growing world population; (2) optimizes animal health, animal well-being and productivity through the use of modern technology; (3) conserves the environment and natural resources for current and future generations; (4) provides jobs and supports local communities; and (5) provides for return on investment and industry growth."
Trade & market
With 96 percent of the world's population living outside the United States, increasing exports of U.S. beef into foreign markets is critical to the growth and sustainability of the U.S. beef cattle industry.
TCFA supports open markets and science-based standards in international trade. Every effort should be made to expand opportunities for U.S. beef including trade agreements that address tariff and non-tariff barriers.
TCFA supports robust price discovery through more industry-led negotiated trade.
TCFA supports voluntary, market-driven beef labeling that benefits both producers and consumers, but opposes mandatory country-of-origin labeling which increases regulatory burden and cost throughout the supply chain.
TCFA supports open markets and science-based standards in international trade. Every effort should be made to expand opportunities for U.S. beef including trade agreements that address tariff and non-tariff barriers.
TCFA supports robust price discovery through more industry-led negotiated trade.
TCFA supports voluntary, market-driven beef labeling that benefits both producers and consumers, but opposes mandatory country-of-origin labeling which increases regulatory burden and cost throughout the supply chain.
BEEF-PAC is the political arm of Texas Cattle Feeders Association and is funded exclusively through the voluntary contributions from TCFA members. BEEF-PAC is one of TCFA’s most important political tools and is a vital component of ongoing efforts to counteract the work of well-funded and passionate opponents.
Through direct campaign contributions, BEEF-PAC helps to elect candidates that support issues important to the cattle feeding industry. Additionally, BEEF-PAC is used to develop relationships with and educate those candidates that are not familiar with our industry. To learn more about BEEF-PAC, please contact Shannon Standley or Josh Winegarner.
Through direct campaign contributions, BEEF-PAC helps to elect candidates that support issues important to the cattle feeding industry. Additionally, BEEF-PAC is used to develop relationships with and educate those candidates that are not familiar with our industry. To learn more about BEEF-PAC, please contact Shannon Standley or Josh Winegarner.