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Frequently Asked QuestionsAgri Beef Co. Quality Feeding Nutrition and Care Agri Beef Co. utilizes a systems approach in providing the highest quality nutrition and care for cattle that are fed in our facilities. Our Beef Management Supply system includes Best Management Practices that have been recommended for certification as part of an overall ISO 9001:2000 and HACCP plan. Our feeding practices may vary between facilities but all are designed to meet the strict requirements of our various brands. Some brands follow traditional industry practices like the Washington Beef and St. Helen's brands, while some brands like our "natural" branded products (Snake River Farms) require that we do not use hormones. All of our brands require that the animals are antibiotic residue-free. Our feed ingredients are primarily grown in the region where our feeding facilities are located. We believe strongly in procuring high quality feedstuffs grown by farmers who live in the same communities that we do. All of our feeding programs are designed and monitored by third party auditors who are trained in the field of animal nutrition and all of our programs are designed with one end goal in mind -- to provide our consumers with the safest and most wholesome products possible. AGRI BEEF CO. ISO/HACCP Q & A's1. What are the benefits of an integrated ISO 9001:2000 and HACCP program?A: An integrated program deals with two specific areas - it encompasses a planned approach to quality assurance designed to meet customers' needs and requirements, and secondly, an assurance that customers are provided food supply that is safe from biological, chemical and physical hazards. 2. What is ISO 9001:2000 registration? A: It means that a third party registrar, Deloitte and Touche, has independently verified that Agri Beef policies, procedures and controls meet the Internal Organization of Standardization in Geneva's requirement for Quality Assurance. It provides customers' assurance of consistent and repeatable cattle quality. 3. The USDA registers HACCP facilities, how can Agri Beef Co. be registered? A: The design of this program is based on Codex Alimenterius, the internal HACCP Standard. Agri Beef Co. complies with all these requirements as verified by the third party registrar. 4. How does Agri Beef Co. address these issues of BSE, pharmaceutical and feed medication in the cattle industry? A: The ISO/HACCP plan establishes "Best Management Practices" for a multitude of issues. These are documented in the company's ISO 9001:2000 and HACCP program. In the area of BSE, Agri Beef already has a policy for BSE prevention that addresses feed and transportation requirements (even prior to the US outbreak). In the other two specific areas, Agri Beef Co. has controls in place to address feed medication and pharmaceutical reconciliation, as well as an excellent review system of all animal health treatments prior to cattle shipping to market. 5. Does the ISO 9001:2000 / HACCP registration make for a perfect feedlot operation? A: It provides the framework for identifying issues and solving problems to prevent re-occurrence and ultimately results in a continuous improvement of the business. 6. What process did Agri Beef Co. use to assess risk? A: Agri Beef's corporate HACCP team reviewed all incoming ingredients, materials, cattle as well as feed yard processes to assess potential biological, chemical and physical hazards. Through the implementation of Best Management Practices (i.e. receiving, transportation, storage) and the establishment of three critical control points (ie. pharmaceutical and feed medication and animals on withdrawal) it was determined that the feedlots were considered low risk in the food chain. ###
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