It's no secret our beef farmers and ranchers are under increased pressure and scrutiny from anti-agriculture activists. In the name of animal welfare, these activist groups work very hard to sway public opinion against beef producers in the hope of ultimately convincing consumers to stop eating meat and forcing food producers out of business. What anti-agriculture activist groups don't want you to know is that the majority of livestock farmers and ranchers care very well for their animals.

Cattle raisers know good management practices help strengthen consumer confidence, as well as the rancher's bottom line. They also closely follow the guidelines of the national Beef Quality Assurance Program (BQA), which were developed with guidance from veterinarians, animal scientists and agricultural engineers to help beef farmers and ranchers identify areas of improvement in management processes. Although the program is voluntary, the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association reports that more than 90 percent of all U.S. beef is raised under BQA guidelines. That tells me the vast majority of beef producers are interested in maintaining a very high level of animal care. Producing high-quality, affordable beef keeps consumers coming back for more and allows our ranchers to stay in business.

Despite what anti-agriculture activists want you to believe, the reality is proper animal care is at the very core of what keeps farmers and ranchers in business.