Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Certification Practice Exam

What should you do if a pregnant cow aborts her calf according to biosecurity management practices?

1. Schedule blood sample collection with your veterinarian.

2. Apply a standard vaccination protocol.

3. Isolate the cow from the herd.

4. Review feed sources for contamination.

The correct answer is: Schedule blood sample collection with your veterinarian.

In the event of a pregnant cow aborting her calf, scheduling blood sample collection with your veterinarian is a critical step in biosecurity management practices. This process is essential for determining the cause of the abortion, which could be due to infectious diseases or other health issues that may pose risks to other animals in the herd. By collecting and analyzing blood samples, veterinarians can identify pathogens or antibodies present, allowing for targeted treatment and prevention strategies. Understanding what led to the abortion can help in implementing effective biosecurity measures to prevent future occurrences. It ensures that any infectious disease is managed properly and that the health of the remaining herd members is safeguarded. This proactive approach is vital in maintaining herd health and productivity, which is a core principle of beef quality assurance. While isolating the cow, reviewing feed sources for contamination, and applying a vaccination protocol are important aspects of herd management and biosecurity, the immediate and critical response following an abortion is to gain information about the health status of the cow and the herd through proper veterinary testing.