Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Certification Practice Exam

When treating newly purchased calves with scours, which type of record should you use to document this treatment?

1. Health management log

2. Pesticide use record

3. Treatment record

4. Financial records

The correct answer is: Pesticide use record

The most suitable record type for documenting the treatment of newly purchased calves with scours is a treatment record. This record is specifically designed to capture details regarding the medical interventions and treatments administered to livestock, including information about the diagnosis, the medication used, dosage, dates, and any follow-up actions. This documentation is vital for maintaining animal health and compliance with best practices in beef production. A treatment record provides a clear account of all actions taken, which can be essential for evaluating the effectiveness of the treatment and ensuring the health of the herd over time. It also is critical for tracking any potential adverse reactions to medications and for knowing the withdrawal times for any drugs used before the animals enter the food chain. Using a health management log tends to cover broader aspects, including general health and husbandry practices, rather than focusing specifically on treatment details. Pesticide use records pertain to the application of pesticides for controlling external parasites or diseases and would not fit the context of treating scours. Financial records deal with the economic aspects of your operations and would not provide the necessary medical details required for animal treatment documentation.