Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Certification Practice Exam

What risk is associated with introducing diseased cattle into your herd?

1. It may cause new breeding lines.

2. It may spread disease to healthy cattle.

3. It can improve herd genetics.

4. It allows for easier market access.

The correct answer is: It may spread disease to healthy cattle.

Introducing diseased cattle into a herd poses a significant risk primarily because it may spread disease to healthy cattle. When an infected animal joins a group of uninfected animals, pathogens can easily transfer through direct contact, shared feed or water sources, or via contaminated equipment or environment. This not only jeopardizes the health of individual animals but can also lead to larger outbreaks within the herd, resulting in increased morbidity and mortality rates. Preventing the introduction of diseased animals is a key component of herd health management. It ensures the overall stability and productivity of the herd while supporting biosecurity measures that protect against potential infectious diseases. The implications of disease spread can be severe, leading to costly veterinary interventions, loss of productivity, and even potential market access issues due to disease outbreaks. The other options do not align with the context of disease management in beef cattle, as introducing diseased animals is unlikely to create new breeding lines beneficially or improve herd genetics. Additionally, it does not facilitate easier market access; in fact, it may lead to restrictions and complications in market entry.