The MICRO PVPTM NHTC Livestock Program extends the Non-Hormone Treated Cattle or Bison verification claims for ranches, livestock marketsand supplier operations. The Micro NHTC Program will allow the participant to provide animals that have been free from all types of Hormonal Growth Promotants (HGP) to buyers as NHTC verified under a USDA approved program.

Program participants must maintain an absence of HGP’s in all NHTC approved animals. Each participant will need to implement documentable procedures to control all aspects of HGP product usage at their facility.

The program participant must demonstrate specific inventory control measures that will allow for monitoring of all inputs that are fed to and or administered to NHTC program animals.

To this point, strict control measures must be implemented to control all inputs that will be fed or administered to NHTC program animals. All NHTC animal handling and feeding procedures implemented to maintain the participant’s NHTC program must be backed by verifiable records.

NHTC program animals must be fully traceable to the ranch of origin at all times as they move through the production cycle.

The NHTC Program is comprised of four main components:

  1. Initial on-site evaluation;
  2. Documented controls of HGP product usage and handling protocols;
  3. NHTC Approved animal receiving protocol (if applicable);
  4. Shipping NHTC approved animals.

In order to expedite the on-site audit process, the following documentation items must be completed prior to scheduling the initial onsite audit:

NHTC Management Team Outlined

Prior to the initial onsite audit, the participant should have outlined the NHTC Management Team that will be utilized for carrying out the calving, feeding, processing, doctoring, shipping of NHTC program animals. All members of the participant’s NHTC Management Team will need to be present at the initial NHTC Program training session conducted by the Micro Beef Technologies Agent.

HGP Handling Procedure Outlined

If any type HGP’s are utilized on the participant operation, the participant will need to have a clearly defined process for recording purchases, storing, handling, and inventory control of the HGP products utilized at the location as to ensure no cross contamination occurs with NHTC program animals.

Ration Ingredient Master List

The participantwill need to maintain a list of all feed stuffs that are currently or periodically inventoried by the participant. The participant’sration ingredient master list will be kept in the participant’sNHTC program manual and kept up-to-date as ration ingredients change over time. If any feed products containing HGP’s are utilized at the operation, those products will need to be handled in accordance with the participant’s HGP Handling Procedure.

Manufactured Feed Ingredient Affidavits

All manufactured feed ingredients (bagged or in bulk) that will be provided to NHTC program animals while they under the control of the participant, including WDG and DDG products, must be covered by a signed and dated affidavit from each feed manufacturer stating: (1) The absences of HGP; and (2) The processesthe feed manufacturer has in place to prevent cross contamination of non-HGP feed with HGP containing feed products.

Feed Tags from each type of bagged feed that may potentially be fed to NHTC program animals will need to be kept on file, (and updated as products change).

Feed Delivery Vehicle Cleanout Procedure Outlined

If the participant utilizes a feed delivery vehicle and the participant delivers feed products containing HGP’s to non-NHTC program animals in that feed delivery vehicle, the participant must have a documented procedure to cleanout the feed delivery vehicle prior to delivery ofnon-HGP containing feed to NHTC program animals.

A log will need to be kept stating the date and time that each feed delivery vehicle clean-out procedure occurs.

Pharmaceutical Inventory List

The participant must provide a comprehensive list of all pharmaceutical items purchased and inventoried at the location.

Any HGP pharmaceutical items that are purchased or inventoried by the participantmust be handled according to the participant’s HGP Handling Procedure to ensure that no cross contamination occurs with NHTC program animals.

Calving Records

If the operation is the ranch of origin, it will need a documented procedure for recording animal birth dates.

Group Processing Procedures

The participantwill need to record all items administered to and all procedures carried out each time that NHTC program animals are processed.

Non-Conforming Animal Procedure

The participant must have a clearly defined procedure for handling animals that are administered or ingest any type of HGP substance on the prohibited substance list.

Animal Identification

All NHTC program animals must have the program compliant tag prior to leaving the facility.

The participant will need to have a procedure for recording the means by which NHTC program animals are identified.

Animal Movement Records

The participant must have a procedure for tracking and recording all movements of NHTC program animals.

Shipping Procedure

The participant will need to have a clearlydefined procedure for shipping NHTC program animals. The participant will need to assure all Program Compliant Tags are in place prior to shipping, including all visual tags. The participant will need to assure all Program Compliant Tags are in place prior to shipping, including all visual tags. The participant will need to complete a shipping manifest on each set of cattle that are shipped by the participant. The shipping manifest will need to denote all programs that the animals being shipped are approved under, i.e. Age & Source Verification, NHTC and/or HQB FC. The shipping manifest will need to include the entire list of RFID numbers of the approved animals being shipped.

NHTC SUPPLIER PRE-EVALUATION CHECKLIST
Please check the box indicating that you have
the necessary documentation completed / Yes / No / N/A
NHTC Management Team Outlined
HGP Handling Procedure Outlined
Ration Ingredient Master List Developed
Manufactured Feed Ingredient Affidavits or Letters on File
Feed Delivery Vehicle Cleanout Procedure Outlined
Pharmaceutical Inventory List Completed
Calving Records on File
Group Processing Procedures Documented
Identifying Non-Conforming Animals Outlined
Animal Identification Documented
Animal Movement Records on File
Shipping Procedures Documented

Once the above outlined procedures and protocols have been completed, send this form along with all supporting documentation to Micro Beef.

Micro Beef will review the information provided. Upon approval of the pre-audit checklist information provided, the initial on-site audit can then be scheduled in conjunction with the Micro Beef Auditing Agent.

Return this completed Audit Report to Micro Beef via mail, email, or fax.

Micro Beef Technologies

Attn: PVP

PO Box 9262

Amarillo, TX79105

Phone: 800-858-4330 Fax: 817-887-5264 Email:

INTERNAL USE ONLY
Date Received: / Micro BeefComments
Answers Reviewed: / YES NO
Approved for initial on-site audit? / YES NO
Reviewed By:
NHTC Management Team
Location Name:
Each operation is required to have “Program Manager”. This person will be the one that is responsible for the overall NHTC program in place at the operation. Other members of the management team can be the ranch foreman/manager, Cattle foreman/manager,
List the Operation’s Management Team:
Program Manager =
Other NHTC Management Team Members:
Describe the Operation’s Overall Management Structure:

PLACE THIS ORIGINAL DOCUMENT IN THE NHTC Program Manual

NHTC HGP Handling Procedure
Location Name:
Common-use HGP’s include all types of growth promoting implants, estrous synchronization products such as MGA, GnRH and Lutalyse andfeed additives used to improve feed to gain ratios or affect carcass merits such as Zilpaterol or Optaflexx.
List all HGP’s utilized or stored at the operation: (This list needs to include both feed and pharmaceutical type HGP’s)
Describe the operation’s HGP handling procedure:

PLACE THIS ORIGINAL DOCUMENT IN THE NHTC Program Manual

List all Feed Ingredients (by ration) currently in inventory or regularly purchased at this location
Location Name: / Ration #: / Date:
Individual Feedstuff Item: / Letter / Certificate / Test Result
Print Name: / Signature: / Date:
INTERNAL USE ONLY
Date Received: / Reviewed By:
Verified Prior Approval: / Date Approved:
Comments: / Pg of

PLACE THIS ORIGINAL DOCUMENT IN THE NHTC Program Manual

{Company Letter Head}

{Date}

Letter of Certification

All products manufactured by {Manufacturer Name} are manufactured in accordance with FDA CGMP’s (21 CFR 225) and all requirements of applicable federal and state laws. Our company has written procedures and quality assurance programs to help ensure our feeds do not contain any contaminants or harmful substances that would exceed FDA/EPA tolerances.

Products as delivered to {Operation Name} are free from hormonal growth promotants, added antibiotics, and prohibited mammalian protein materials as labeled. All sales to our customers are recorded and traceable to the batch of product manufactured for the order.

{Manufacturer Name} is in compliance with the FDA-BSE Rule (21 CFR 689.2000 ) and fully comply with the Food and Drug Administration’s Good Manufacturing Practices. Our plant operates consistently in accordance within these strict standards as documented by Quality Assurance audits and government regulatory agencies inspections.

{Name}

{Title}

{Address}

{City, State Zip}

{Phone Number}

Feed Delivery Vehicle Cleanout Procedure
Location Name:
Are HGP’s Fed at this location?
Yes No
If Yes, describe the feed delivery vehicle cleanout procedure below.
If the operation feeds rations containing HGP’s and a dedicated feed truck is not a viable option for the operation to deliver feed to NHTC program animals, the participant will need to conduct a feed delivery vehicle clean out procedure prior to delivering HGP free feed to NHTC program animals. The participant can either deliver a load of feed that does not contain prohibited products or run a minimum of 500 pounds of ground hay or WDG through the feeding vehicle and allow it to mix for a minimum of two minutes. The product utilized to clean the feed box will then need to be off loaded and segregated prior to mixing feed to be delivered to NHTC program animals.
For all bulk feed items that are delivered to the ranch, the trucking company that delivers the bulk feed item must have a documented feed delivery vehicle cleanout procedure in place to ensure that previous products delivered in the delivery vehicle have contaminated the product being delivered to your operation.
Each clean out procedure conducted at each location will need to be documented.
If HGP’s are feed by the operation or delivered to the operation, describe the feed delivery vehicle cleanout procedure:

PLACE THIS ORIGINAL DOCUMENT IN THE NHTC Program Manual

List all Pharmaceuticals items currently in inventory or regularly purchased at this location
Location Name: / Date:
Pharmaceutical Item / Purchased from: / In Inventory / Regular Purchase
Print Name: / Signature: / Date:
INTERNAL USE ONLY
Date Received: / Reviewed By:
Verified Prior Approval: / Date Approved:
Comments: / Pg of

PLACE THIS ORIGINAL DOCUMENT IN THE NHTC Program Manual

Calving Records
Location Name:
Are individual calving birthdates kept on each calf born?
Yes No
Are calves tagged at birth?
Yes No
Describe the procedure the ranch utilizes to record calving information:

PLACE THIS ORIGINAL DOCUMENT IN THE NHTC Program Manual


NHTC Group Processing Records
Location Name:
If the program participant does not have a computer based record keeping system, there is a Group Processing template form located in the appendix of the NHTC program manual.
Describe the participants procedure for documenting a group processing event:

PLACE THIS ORIGINAL DOCUMENT IN THE NHTC Program Manual

NHTC Non-Conformance Protocol
Location Name:
The Micro NHTC Non-Conformance Event Form is located in the supporting document section of the NHTC program manual.
Describe the procedure the participant will utilize to identify and document the event that an approved animal becomes non-conforming by either ingesting or being administered any type of prohibited HGP product:

PLACE THIS ORIGINAL DOCUMENT IN THE NHTC Program Manual

NHTC Animal Identification
Location Name:
Describe current method used to identify animals participant oversees, (If applicable, include visual tag colors and visual tag numbering system, brands, ear notch description)
Describe the procedure the participant will utilize to identify NHTC approved animals:

PLACE THIS ORIGINAL DOCUMENT IN THE NHTC Program Manual


NHTC Animal Movement Records
Location Name:
As a requirement of the NHTC program, the USDA requires that all NHTC program animal movements be recorded in the participant’s records.
Describe the procedure the participant will utilize to document animal movement while NHTC animals are located on the operation:

PLACE THIS ORIGINAL DOCUMENT IN THE NHTC Program Manual


NHTC Shipping Procedure
Location Name:
Describe the procedure the participant will utilize to ship NHTC program animals:

PLACE THIS ORIGINAL DOCUMENT IN THE NHTC Program Manual