Pasturefed Cattle Assurance System

Pasturefed Cattle Assurance System

ProducerGuide

Version 1.6(26 February 2014)

Purpose

The Pasturefed Cattle Assurance System (PCAS) Producer Guide is intended to equip interested producers with the information and tools they need to become Certified Pasturefed.

The PCAS Producer Guide is designed to be educational and instructive and help producers implement on-farm practices that will assist them in meeting the requirements of the PCAS Standards and achieving certification.

Contents

WHY Pasturefed Assurance?

Verifying assurance - the PCAS Standards

Certified Pasturefed

Certification Marks

Benefits

Benefits for producers

Benefits to processors

What are the fundamentals of the system?

How does PCAS fit with others on-farm systems and standards?

Steps to gaining certification

Steps to maintaining certification

How to meet the certified pasturefed Standard

ELEMENT 1: IDENTIFICATION AND LIFETIME TRACEABILITY

Element 2: No Confinement for the Purpose of Intensive Feeding for Production

ELEMENT 3: LIFETIME PASTUREFED

ELEMENT 4: MINIMUM EATING QUALITY STANDARDS (ON-FARM)

How to meet the certified pasturefed +HGP-Free Standard

ELEMENT 5: LIFETIME FREE FROM HORMONAL GROWTH PROMOTANTS

How to meet the certified pasturefed +ANTIBIOTIC-Free Standard

ELEMENT 6: LIFETIME FREE FROM ANTIBIOTICS

Example forms

Record of Livestock Transactions - Onto PIC (purchased)

Record of Livestock Born and Reared on the PIC

Record of Livestock Transactions - Off PIC (sold)

Record of Lost NLIS Devices

Record of Cattle Ineligible for Certified Pasturefed

Record of Confinement and/or Confinement Feeding of Cattle

Record of Introduced Stockfeed or Supplements

Record of Crops Grown and/or Supplements Produced On-PIC for Stockfeed

Record of Cattle Movement on and off Cereal or Grain Crops

Record of HGP Treatments

Record of Antibiotic Treatments

Record of Introduced Antibiotics

VERSION 1.6, Dated: 26 February 2014

Pasturefed Cattle Assurance SystemProducer Guide //

WHY Pasturefed Assurance?

Consumers are increasingly seekingassurances from red meat suppliers, including processors and producers, about how the meat they are supplying was produced and, where claims are made, demanding proof that their products have been produced as claimed.

The Pasturefed Cattle Assurance System, or PCAS for short, is an assurance program that enables the industry to prove claims relating to pasturefed or grassfed production methods.

Verifying assurance- the PCAS Standards

Underpinning PCAS are the PCAS Standards which govern the on-farm feed requirements and traceability of the cattle as well as pre-slaughter handling practices which influence eating quality. The PCAS Standards also include two optional modules to support claims relating to the freedom from antibiotics and hormone growth promotants (HGPs).

If a producer wants to make claims relating to pasturefed or grassfed production methods, they can have these claims certified under PCAS. This means they need to ensure their on-farm practices comply with the requirements of the PCAS Standards and that they maintain accurate records in order to prove their practices comply.

Generally these practices and records are not necessarily out of the ordinary and are typically associated with running a successful beef production enterprise.

The requirements of the PCAS Standards mean that eligible cattle:

●Have had access to graze open pasture their entire life

●Have not been confined for the purposes of intensive feeding for production

●Are fully traceable for their entire life;

●Are eligible to be accompanied by an MSA Vendor Declaration when consigned to slaughter;

and if required:

●Are free from Hormone Growth Promotants (HGPs);

and/or:

●Are free from antibiotics.

Verifying on-farm practices and records that prove production methods comply with the requirements of the PCAS Standards is part of a quality assurance process involving annual third-party on-site audits.

Certified Pasturefed

Producers that comply with the PCAS Standards and successfully pass a self-audit and a full audit are eligible to claim their product is "Certified Pasturefed" and use the Certified Pasturefed suite of certification marks.This means eligible cattle raised on these properties may be sold as either:

●Certified Pasturefed

●Certified Pasturefed +HGP-free

●Certified Pasturefed +Antibiotic-free

●Certified Pasturefed +HGP+Antibiotic-free

Certification Marks

Benefits

PCASallows beef producers and processors to participate in a dedicated 'pasturefed' supply chain and, in doing so, realise a number of benefits including:

Benefits for producers

/

Benefits to processors

●Recognition
●Improved record keeping
●Maintain or achieve market access / ●Ability to provide verifiable assurances for all markets.
●Product differentiation and promotion opportunities.

What are the fundamentals of the system?

The fundamental components of PCAS are the:

●PCAS Standard

The standards which underpin PCAS. This includes three modules, one compulsory and two optional, with six(6)elements combined; each of which describes an outcome that must be met in order to be certified.

●Elements

The six key areas of compliance within the PCAS Standards. The first four are compulsory, the remaining two are optional:

–Identification and lifetime traceability;

–No confinement for the purpose of intensive feeding for production;

–Lifetime pasturefed;

–Minimum eating quality standards (on-farm); and

–Lifetime free from Hormonal Growth Promotants (HGPs); and/or

–Lifetime free from antibiotics

●Outcomes

Each element is associated with an outcome that must be delivered for producers to remain certified.The delivery of this outcome is assured through the implementation of on-farm systems to ensure that cattle:

–Are individually identified and fully traceable throughout their entire life.

–Are not confined for the purpose of intensive feeding for production.

–Have never been fed separated grain or grain by-products and have access to graze open pasture or an Eligible Diet.

–Are eligible to be accompanied by a Meat Standards Australia (MSA) Vendor Declaration when consigned to slaughter; and

–Have never been treated with Hormonal Growth Promotants (HGPs); and/or

–Have never been treated with antibiotics.

●Performance indicators

A series of general management and on-farm practices that should be undertaken to ensure that the outcomes associated with each of the six elements are achieved.

●Property Identification Code or PIC

PCAS certification is linked to an individual Property Identification Code (PIC).

How does PCAS fit with others on-farm systems and standards?

PCAS works in tandem with Livestock Production Assurance, the National Livestock Identification System and Meat Standards Australia.

●Livestock Production Assurance (LPA)

LPA is the program that underpins the National Vendor Declaration and Waybill (LPA NVD/Waybill) and upholds Australia's reputation as a world leader in meat and livestock food safety.

All cattle sold under PCAS must be accompanied by an LPA NVD/Waybill and so any producer wishing to maintain certification must operate an LPA accredited property.

●National Livestock Identification System (NLIS)

NLIS is Australia's system for identification and traceability of livestock for biosecurity, meat safety, product integrity and market access purposes.

While not mandatory, a simple way for producers to verify the lifetime traceability of all cattle on their property is by checking their Lifetime Traceable (LT) status on the NLIS database.

In addition, all eligible cattle must be fitted with an NLIS device by the time they are weaned and the NLIS devices used in the mob must be recorded.

●Meat Standards Australia (MSA)

MSA is a beef, lamb and sheepmeat eating quality program that removes the need for consumers to have specialist knowledge of beef and sheepmeat. MSA labels the red meat product with a guaranteed grade and recommended cooking method to identify eating quality according to consumer perceptions.

All cattle consigned to slaughter under PCAS must be accompanied by an MSA Vendor Declaration.

LPA, NLIS and MSA have management practice and record-keeping requirements. Many of these are also required under PCAS which means that producers may already be meeting many of the PCAS requirements set down under the PCAS Standards.

While you do need toensure your records are up-to-date and easily accessible forauditing purposes under PCAS,there isno need to duplicate activities or record keeping undertaken as part of good farm management or for other programs such as LPA, NLIS and MSA.

Steps to gaining certification

1. Read through the PCAS Standards and the Rules Governing the Use of the Certified Pasturefed Suite of Certification Marks(Rules)which can be obtained online from
2. Ensure that you fully understand what is required under the PSCAS Standard and Rules.
3. Assess your own farm management systems and practices against the PCAS Standards- this can be done using:

–The online self-audit

–The Audit Checklist available online

– The checklists in this guide

1. Register your property online at this involves:

–Creating a profile

–Registering your property

–Paying the application fee

1. Arrange and on-site audit though one of the approved PCAS Certification Bodies listed on
2. Before the day of the audit - ensure you have all necessary systems in place to demonstrate compliance against the Standards and have records and other forms of evidence available to verify such compliance.
3. If any non-conformances are identified during the audit, take the appropriate action to rectify the issues identified and close-out the non-conformances.
4. Submit evidence of actions taken to your Certification Body for consideration. If all non-conformances have been closed out to the satisfaction of the Certification Body then certification can be progressed.
5. After you have achieved certification a certificate will be issued. You can them begin to sell cattle as Certified Pasturefed and use the suite of Certification Marks.

Steps to maintaining certification

1. In order to maintain certification you must complete an on-site audit every 12 months and close-out any non-conformances identified during the audit.
2. Contact your selected Certification Body to undertake the annual on-site audit.

How to meet the certified pasturefed Standard

ELEMENT 1: IDENTIFICATION AND LIFETIME TRACEABILITY

OUTCOME:On-farm systems have been implemented to ensure that cattle are individually identified and that they are fully traceable throughout their entire life.

Practical ways to implement the element

 / If you are purchasing any cattle to introduce onto your PIC, check the lifetime traceable status of the cattle by ensuring that:
●Every animal is correctly identified with anapproved NLIS device.
●The vendor has answered 'Yes' to the question relating to the ownership of cattle since birth on the LPA NVD/Waybill.
If purchasing through a saleyard, also ensure that:
●The saleyard has scanned the lot and has verified the Lifetime Traceable (LT) status of every animal in the lot.
 / While not mandatory you can also check the LT status of all cattle on your PIC on the NLIS Database - use the following reports:
●Audit property (producers and regulators)
●PIC activity summary
●Livestock moved off PIC report
●Livestock moved on PIC report
Make sure the dates selected for these reports correlates to the age of the cattle on your PIC. For example if you have four year old cattle, ensure the report dates go back four years.
 / Record movements of introduced cattle onto yourPICon the NLIS Database within seven (7) days of arrival onto yourPIC.
 / Ensure all cattle born on-farm are identified with an approved NLIS device by the time they are weaned. The NLIS devices used in mobs of eligible cattle must be recorded.
 / Upon the arrival of introduced cattle, check each animal to ensure an approved NLIS device is fitted. Should an introduced animal be found to be missing an NLIS device, then ensure contingencies are in place to confirm that animals' legitimacy for Certified Pasturefed status including lifetime traceability, or it is permanently visually identified as ineligible, the method of identification is recorded and that animal is traceable at all times. The NLIS devices used in mobs of eligible cattle must be recorded.
 / Identify cattle with visual ear tags, in addition to NLIS devices. Use different coloured or shaped tags to differentiate between eligible and ineligible cattle. Ensure these remain attached to the cattle while in your possession. Correlate NLIS device numbers with ear tag numbers as this helps verify eligibility in the case of a lost tag.
 / If an eligible animal loses its visual ear tag that demonstrates its eligibility, ensure it is replaced. If there is any uncertainty regarding that animal’s eligibility, it should be deemed ineligible and the appropriate visual ear tag applied.
 / If cattle become ineligible, change their visual ear tag to the correcttype that represents ineligibility.
 / Ensure you have appropriate systems in place to ensure any cattle on the PICthat are ineligible to be sold as Certified Pasturefed are traceable at all times, permanently visually identified as ineligible and the method of identification is recorded. The method used to identify ineligible cattle should not be used for any other purpose on the PIC.
 / Record cattle movements on and off yourPIC, including details such as:
●Date of movement
●Number of head
●Breed of livestock and purpose
●Sex and/or age
●Old identification and new identification
●NLIS device number
●NLIS Lifetime Traceable (LT) status(optional)
●LPA NVD/Waybill number
●PCAS eligibility status
 / Before dispatch, check that all cattle in the mob to be transported have approved NLIS devices correctly fitted.
 / Replace any lost NLIS devices with the approved NLIS replacement device before loading for dispatch. Record the new device details. In order to retain that animal’s eligibility status, you need to also be able to record the lost device. If this is not possible, the animal becomes ineligible.
 / Physically segregate eligible cattle from ineligible cattle for consignment. If physical segregation is not possible, ensure an appropriate method is in place that enables enable ineligible cattle to be clearly visually identified from eligible cattle (such as using paint to specify eligibility status) and the method of identification recorded on the transport documentation.
 / Prior to dispatch, accurately complete appropriate movement paperwork, such as:
●LPA NVD/Waybill
●MSA Vendor Declaration (for slaughter)
●PCAS Vendor Declaration
●Transported Stock Statements
●BJD National Animal Health Statement or Vendor Declaration and all other necessary certifications or statements required in your state.
 / Ensure appropriate transport paperwork accompanies the correct mob of cattle and that you retain your own copies.
 / Prior to dispatch, complete separate LPA NVD/Waybills, MSA Vendor Declarations and other required movement documents for eligible and ineligible cattle. Note the identification methods on the LPA NVD/Waybills.
 / Ensure that systems are in place to identify eligible cattle at load out and cross check this against records of ineligible cattle.
 / Ensure that all introduced cattle, except for weaners, that are intended to be sold as Certified Pasturefed are accompanied by a PCAS Vendor Declaration.
 / In the case of weaners sourced from non-certified PICs, ensure a PCAS Non-certified Supplier Declaration is obtained.
 / In the case of Pregnancy-Tested-In-Calf (PTIC) cows sourced from non-certified PICs, ensure the cows are identified as ineligible and the method of identification is recorded. To ensure the off-spring of PTIC cows are eligible to be sold as Certified Pasturefed, ensure they are raised in a manner that complies with the PCAS Standards.

Keep evidence of what you have done

 / Records of animal identification methods and any changes in identification devices or eligibility status.
 / Records of cattle movements on and off your PIC.
 / Copies of all appropriate paperwork for cattle movement such as copies of LPA NVD/Waybills, MSA Vendor Declarations and all other movement documentation.
 / Copies of PCAS Vendor Declarations for bought and sold cattle.
 / Copies of signed PCAS Non-certified Supplier Declarations for all introduced weaners.

Example forms

 / Form: ID01/01
Record of Livestock Transactions - Onto PIC (purchased)
 / Form: ID01/02
Record of Livestock Born and Reared on the PIC
 / Form: ID01/03
Record of Livestock Transactions - Off PIC(sold)
 / Form: ID01/04
Record of Lost/Replaced NLIS Devices
 / Form: ID01/05
Record of Cattle Ineligible for Certified Pasturefed

Element 2: No Confinement for the Purpose of Intensive Feeding for Production

OUTCOME:On-farm systems have been implemented to ensure that cattle are not confined for the purpose of intensive feeding for production.

Practical ways to implement the element

 / If you are wanting to confine any cattle for intensive feeding for production then ensure you have applied for Purposeful Parallel Production approval from PCAS Administration.
 / Ensure you have appropriate systems in place to ensure any cattle on the PICthat are ineligible to be sold as Certified Pasturefed due to approved intensive confinement feeding are traceable at all times, permanently visually identified as ineligible and the method of identification is recorded.
 / When cattle are confined for management activities and feed is offered, record information such as:
●Period of confinement (date and time commenced and ended)
●Reason for confinement
●Identification and description of cattle confined
●Feed offered during confinement
 / When cattle are confined for husbandry and management activities and feed is offered, ensure the period an individual animal is confined for in one calendar year does not exceed 20 days.
 / When cattle are confined for transportation purposes, including preparation for transport and consolidation for sale, ensure that time spent in such confinement does not exceed 7 days for each journey.
 / Record the production and/or introduction of stockfeed and crops including:
●Type of stockfeed, supplement or crop produced or introduced
●Ingredients and quantity (volume or tonnes etc)
●Purpose or destination
●Date purchased and date disposed/used

Keep evidence of what you have done