2026 - Verified Beef Production Plus

From a Piece of Wire to Contaminated Feed: Preventing Foreign Material Hazards in Beef Cattle Operations

Foreign material and toxin consumption by beef cattle can lead to significant health problems, reduced performance and economic losses. Canadian cattle producers take great pride and care in how they manage their farms and ranches, from providing proper nutrition to stewarding their land and ensuring excellent animal care. Yet even with the best intentions, foreign materials and toxins can quietly find their way into feed, water or pastures. Understanding where they come from and how to prevent exposure is a key part of protecting your herd.

Foreign materials and toxins often slip in through everyday farm activities such as repairing fences, running equipment, feeding hay or dealing with weather-stressed crops. A small piece of wire, leftover net wrap or contaminated feed source might not seem like much, but if consumed by cattle, it can trigger health issues, lost performance or even death.

Understanding Hardware Disease

When cattle consume sharp metal objects like nails or pieces of wire, those items can settle in the reticulum and irritate or puncture the stomach lining. In the worst cases, these foreign objects can migrate and damage the heart, causing severe illness or death. This condition is known as hardware disease (or bovine traumatic reticuloperitonitis), and it can be both dangerous and costly.

Signs of hardware disease include:

Depression or dullness
General discomfort (e.g., teeth grinding, grunting)
Arched back
Off feed
Brisket swelling
Loss of body condition

Common sources of metal pieces include cables on fences or feed bunks, fragments from feed processing equipment and scrap materials left on the ground. Prevention goes a long way and there are several preventative practices that can be implemented, including:

Using magnets or scalpers to remove possible debris from feed
Covering metal cables with plastic sleeves
Avoiding materials that deteriorate over time
Regular equipment and facility maintenance
Keeping yards and feeding areas clean

Twine and Net Wrap: A Preventable Risk

Twine and net wrap are among the most common foreign materials consumed by cattle and are some of the easiest problems to avoid. These materials are indigestible and can build up in the rumen leading to blockages and digestive tract injury.

Signs of twine or net wrap consumption include:

Weight loss
Abdominal pain
Poor coat condition
Lethargy
Diarrhea
Bloating
Straining to defecate

Prevention is Key

Once consumed, there is no easy fix. Taking a few extra minutes to remove and properly dispose of twine and net wrap before feeding, perform regular maintenance of equipment and facilities and inspect feeding areas for foreign materials can save a lot of trouble down the road.

Toxins That Put Cattle at Risk

Toxins can be difficult to spot, but their impact can be serious. Exposure can lead to reduced feed intake and poor performance or, in some cases, sudden illness or death.

Some of the most common toxins beef cattle may be exposed to include:

Mycotoxins from contaminated or mouldy feed
Botulism from decaying carcasses, spoiled silage or poorly preserved hay
Nitrates from weather-stressed plants or excess nitrogen fertilization
Prussic acid from plants such as sorghum, Sudan grass, Johnson grass, chokecherry and treated canola seed (risk increases during drought or frost stress)
Toxic plants including hemlock, poison hemlock, death camus, lupine, red maple, oak, locoweed, monkshood, tansy, ragwort, common tansy, henbane, stinkweed and tall larkspur
Lead from improperly disposed batteries, contaminated water sources, lead pipes or lead based paints

Preventing Exposure to Toxins

Preventing toxin exposure involves awareness, monitoring and good management practices:

Test when in doubt: Test feed and water sources suspected of contamination or considered high risk (e.g., grain screenings, distillers’ grains).
Watch the weather: Moisture levels during growth and harvest affect mycotoxin risk. For example, cool, moist conditions during flowering favour ergot growth, while warm, moist conditions favour fusarium development.
Proper feed storage: Keep feed dry and well ventilated to prevent mould growth and spoilage.
Vaccination: Vaccination programs can help protect against certain toxins, such as botulism or clostridial diseases.
Expert guidance: Work with your nutritionist and veterinarian to design balanced diets and monitor toxin exposure. If exposure is suspected, contact your veterinarian to confirm and document the toxin exposure.
Management practices: Rotate pastures, avoid overgrazing and inspect fields regularly, especially after frost or drought, to minimize exposure to toxic plants and mouldy feed. Routinely check pastures for lead sources such as discarded batteries.
Education and awareness: Stay informed through extension programs, industry groups, agronomists and other farm advisors. Consider implementing a preventive control plan to identify hazards and reduce risks.

A few proactive steps can prevent cattle from accessing foreign materials and toxins, which is essential for maintaining herd health, protecting performance and avoiding preventable losses. Taking the time to walk pastures and feeding areas and regularly inspecting cattle, facilities, feed and water sources can help catch problems early.

Welcoming Visitors: Show Off Your Herd Safely

Welcoming visitors onto your beef operation for tours, sales or informal stock viewings is a great way to connect and tell your story, but it also opens the door to a serious risk: disease. Every visit—whether from neighbours, tourists or family—carries the potential to introduce or spread disease to or from your operation.

Good biosecurity practices help manage these risks while also reducing the probability of disease at the herd, national and even international levels. It’s important to understand why biosecurity matters during tours, as well as what actions should be in place before, during and after tours to minimize risk.

Why Biosecurity Matters During Tours

Biosecurity planning and precautions should be implemented during tours to limit the potential spread of disease to your livestock. This not only helps protect against significant reportable and trade-limiting diseases such as Foot and Mouth Disease, but also helps reduce the spread of endemic diseases, such as bovine viral diarrhea (BVD).

Hosting tours introduces various pathways for disease entry—through people, vehicles, animals and equipment. Visitors may include individuals who have had recent livestock contact or those unaware of farm biosecurity.

Keeping visitors safe is also important. Zoonotic pathogens can cause disease in both humans and animals; familiar examples include E. coli and ringworm.

Reportable diseases: diseases of significant importance to human or animal health, or to the Canadian economy. Not generally present in the industry. All suspected cases must be immediately reported by law to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) for investigation by inspectors.

Endemic diseases: diseases that are already present in the industry and may occur on an ongoing basis.

Zoonotic diseases: diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans. They may be endemic or reportable.

^{Source: Government of Canada}

Before the Tour

Planning is key to a successful and safe farm tour. Before welcoming guests, take time to assess potential risks and put actionable measures in place to reduce them. Consider the following pre-tour planning steps:

1. Assess the risk level.

Consider the type and age of livestock currently on your operation. Stressed or young cattle are typically at higher risk than older animals. For example, have you recently received a load of freshly weaned, high-risk calves?
Think about where people are visiting from. Have visitors had livestock contact at more than one operation? Have they handled sick livestock in the past 14 days (high risk), or have they had no contact with livestock in the past 14 days (low risk)?
For international visitors, ask if they have had livestock contact within the past 14 days to prevent the introduction of reportable diseases, as recommended by the CFIA.
Identify the high-risk areas on your farm, such as calving barns, feed storage areas or sick pens.
Determine the goal of the tour. Does it require contacting livestock (high risk), or will visitors stay in a vehicle during the tour (low risk)?

2. Set boundaries and routes.

Plan a specific meeting area and designate parking locations away from livestock pens, feed or water sources to prevent contamination.
Plan a designated tour route. Aim to go from the youngest and most susceptible animals to the older animals.
Avoid high-risk zones and animal handling such as calving barns or sick pens when possible.
Post simple, clear signage such as “Stop—Biosecure Area” or “Clean Area Only” to help visitors understand and respect restricted zones. Signs can be printed in-house or purchased through farm supply outlets, provincial cattle associations or the Verified Beef Production Plus webstore.

3. Prepare personal protective equipment (PPE), cleaning and disinfectant supplies.

Ensure disposable boot covers or a footwear washing station are ready for visitors.
Choose durable waterproof boot covers that won’t tear easily in pens or muddy areas.
Provide handwashing or sanitizing stations at entry and exit points.

4. Communicate expectations before arrival.

Ensure visitors know what is expected and what is required (e.g., clean clothing and footwear).
Provide visitors with meeting and parking information ahead of arrival. When possible, provide a map or other detailed directions.
Provide simple explanations about why these steps matter and what biosecurity on your farm looks like.

During the Tour

Farms and ranches may implement a standard biosecurity protocol. A good starting point for this plan includes:

Keep a visitor log with names, dates and contact information of visitors.
Sanitize or wash hands upon arrival.
Direct guests to follow the planned route and respect restricted areas.
Provide boot covers for all participants.
If footwear washing is used instead of disposable covers, ensure brushes, disinfectants and clean water are available.

Best Practices for Boot Washing

Rinse and dry footwear.
Apply disinfectant solution according to label directions and contact time.
Allow footwear to dry before entering clean areas.
Remind guests not to touch livestock, feed or water troughs and to avoid direct contact with manure or bedding.
Have staff or volunteers positioned to help monitor compliance and answer questions—this also keeps the tour engaging and controlled.

Click to download one-page boot disinfection guide.

After the Tour

Have visitors sanitize or wash their hands before departing.
Disinfect any high-risk or heavily trafficked areas after the tour. There are many effective disinfectants available. Consult with your veterinarian for guidance on which product is right for your situation.
Safely dispose of used boot covers and cleaning materials.
Keep your visitor log for at least 12 months.
Perform health checks on animal groups that may have had contact with tour visitors, and contact your veterinarian with any concerns.
Review what worked well and where improvements could be made for future tours.

Farm biosecurity doesn’t have to be complicated. Simple and proactive steps can go a long way towards protecting your beef herd, your livelihood and the broader livestock industry. By planning ahead, setting clear expectations and keeping records, you can confidently welcome visitors while ensuring your tour is safe and enjoyable for everyone.

LEARN MORE:

Foot and Mouth Disease Travel Guidelines for Beef Cattle Producers (BCRC checklist)
Biosecurity for Beef Producers (BCRC topic webpage)
Getting Ready for Branding (VBP+ article)
The Ins and Outs of Bull Sale and Calving Season (VBP+ article)

Information at Your Fingertips: Summary Reports and More on the VBP+ Producer Portal

Did you know?

Recent updates to the Producer Portal give VBP+ Certified beef producers access to assessment summary reports! In addition to completing renewal assessments on the portal, producers can access these summary reports, their certificate and any outstanding corrective actions. Useful sample records for corrective action resolution can also be downloaded directly from the portal.

Producers who wish to apply for incentives linked to both VBP+ and CRSB certifications will be able to access certificates with a single click.

Until now, assessment summary reports and other documents have been sent to certified beef producers by email, so this update will allow greater flexibility in accessing vital VBP+ documentation, including current VBP+ Certification and active CRSB Certification.

Resolving corrective actions just got easier!

While communicating an outstanding corrective action request (CAR) has also been completed through email, phone or fax to date, upgrades to the portal include a CAR resolution. This feature provides downloadable sample records intended to reduce extra steps for beef producers working to resolve gaps identified during the on-farm assessment.

What can beef producers expect from the summary report?

When operations complete a VBP+ on-farm or renewal assessment, they receive an email with a Summary Assessment Report. The Summary Assessment Report outlines the results of the assessment, the assessor’s summary comments and any corrective action requests.

The Summary Assessment Report outlines results of the assessment, the assessor’s summary comments and any corrective action requests.

As VBP+ delivers two certifications with a single assessment: the VBP+ Certification and certification to the Sustainable Beef Production Standard maintained by the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB). Beef producers will now receive separate reports for each of these certifications.

The VBP+ Summary Report

The VBP+ Summary Report includes the following information:

The operation name
The VBP+ Inc. assessor name
The date of the assessment
Assessment scores determined based on 60 questions from the assessment pillars
The assessor’s summary comments
Corrective action requests from the assessment with deadlines for resolution
Date and scope of the next assessment (records assessment or self-declaration)
Other resources including provincial coordinator contact information, assessment experience survey and an appeals and complaints process

VBP+ Assessment Pillars

Animal Health
Animal Care
Animal Nutrition
Biosecurity
Emergency Response and Preparedness
Environmental Stewardship and Conservation
Transportation
Vulnerable, Distressed and High-Risk Cattle
Critical Control Points
Medicated Feeds
Leadership and Community
Coaching and Mentoring

In this example of scoring in one of the 12 pillars, 71% of the questions related to animal health were scored a two and 29% were scored a three. For more information on questions and scoring criteria, consult the VBP+ Producer Manuals.

The CRSB Summary Report

The CRSB Summary Report reflects how an operation scores against the Sustainable Beef Production Standard maintained by the CRSB.

Additional Resources

Contact your provincial coordinator with any questions you may have or email auditcoordinator@verifiedbeef.ca.
Learn more about the Producer Portal or login to the Producer Portal.

How To Prepare for an On-Farm Assessment: VBP+ Pre-Certification Resources for Canadian Beef Producers

Are you a Canadian beef producer working toward VBP+ Certification for the first time or preparing for a renewal assessment?

VBP+ wants to ensure you feel ready and have resources at your fingertips so your on-farm assessment can be completed more efficiently, in less time and with greater ease.

Start Here!

If you are considering certification, training is the place to start. VBP+ training explains the VBP+ Standard criteria and examines the records needed for an on-farm assessment.

Pre-Certification Consultation

Producers who participate in a pre-certification consultation with a VBP+ Coordinator or watch a pre-certification webinar prior to an on-farm assessment are consistently better prepared.

The pre-certification webinar includes valuable tips to ensure the on-farm assessment process is clear and simple. Watch the recording for key information:
•   How to get ready for an on-farm assessment
•   What to expect before the assessor visits your operation
•   Where will the assessor want to visit on your farm
•   Incentives available with your certification
•   CRSB Certification details
• Q&A for unique operational systems and processes

What To Expect During an On-Farm Assessment

Let’s talk: On-farm assessments are designed to feel like a conversation between you and the assessor. VBP+ assessors are producers themselves and are experienced with cattle production in Canada.

Take a tour: During the farm walk-through, you can plan to show the assessor a variety of areas on your farm such as cattle, calving grounds, water sources, feeding areas, handling facilities, feed storage, pastures, medicated feed storage and equipment, minerals and supplements, non-ruminant feeds, chemical storage, lagoons or septic systems, animal health product storage and delivery equipment. What can’t be covered during the tour (due to remote location or weather) can be explained verbally.

Show off your records: Your on-farm assessment will also include a discussion about critical records. Some certification criteria can be met through verbal descriptions, while others require that you show physical records in the way that works best for you. There is no mandatory record-keeping format, however VBP+ offers a selection of record-keeping templates if you choose to use them. At the completion of the assessment, the assessor will discuss any actions that may need to be taken on your operation to meet specific criteria and work with you to create a plan for corrections if needed.

What Will Be Assessed on My Operation?

To become VBP+ Certified, various criteria are assessed on-farm, providing a holistic view of production practices on the operation.

Animal Health: Examines how animal health products are used on your operation and how cattle health is managed. Criteria are based on the beef industry Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan to reduce risks of negative outcomes for cattle health or food safety.

Animal Nutrition: Assesses your operation’s process for ensuring cattle have adequate quantities and quality of feed and water. These criteria include how cattle condition is monitored, how medicated feed is managed and how contamination risks are avoided on the operation.

Animal Care: Examines your processes for cattle handling and shelter, management of painful procedures and animal stress as well as how cattle are regularly monitored on your operation. The requirements for this section are informed by the Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Beef Cattle.

Vulnerable, Distressed and High-Risk Cattle: Criteria assess how cattle with a poor prognosis are managed on your operation. Specifically, this section covers euthanasia decision making, euthanasia processes and how operations manage deadstock.

Transportation: Examines practices when transporting cattle, including pre-transport checks to ensure cattle are free of withdrawals and physical hazards and are fit for transport, as well as demonstrating an understanding of transport regulations for compromised or unfit cattle and transfer of care documentation for cattle transferred to a new owner.

Biosecurity: Assesses on-farm practices to minimize the risks of disease spreading onto, off and within your operation, including management of animal movements, visitors, tools and equipment. This section also examines how operations work with their veterinarian to prevent and manage disease. This section is informed by the Canadian Beef Cattle Biosecurity Standard.

Environmental Stewardship: Examines how you work to reduce your operation’s impact on the environment, including management of water, air quality, soil nutrients and land resources. This section also examines processes for wildlife management and chemical inputs, as well as practices to prevent foreign objects from penetrating cattle hides on the operation.

Emergency Response and Preparedness: Evaluates your plans to manage disasters or emergencies on your operation. This section is intended to encourage producers to think about how to respond to an emergency before it happens, thereby minimizing damage and stress if an incident were to occur.

Training and Mentoring: Addresses the management of human resources on your operation. Even family operations without hired staff benefit from a plan to ensure a safe work environment and growth opportunities for people working on the farm.

Community and Leadership: Assesses how your operation interacts with the broader community and integrates new technologies and innovations. Innovation and community involvement can mean different things in different operations, so this standard is not meant to be prescriptive, but rather to recognize the efforts beef producers are making as leaders in their communities, the values of their operation and their efforts towards production efficiency.

How Do I Score?

Criteria are assessed with a scoring system from 0 to 3, reflecting the depth of implementation for a particular practice or process on the operation. The scoring system is generally based on the following continuum:

0 – No awareness or knowledge of the criteria

1 – Knowledge and verbal description of how your operation meets the criteria

2 – Records to prove implementation of the criteria along with a verbal description of the process

3 – Written protocol of process and records to prove implementation

Some criteria, called Critical Control Points (CCP), are criteria which require records. These criteria are mostly on-farm food safety criteria and are used to prove a commitment to producing safe and quality beef. CCPs are required criteria. A minimum score of two is required for these criteria. All other criteria are standard criteria. A minimum score of one is required for these criteria.

What Do I Have To Do for Renewal Assessments?

To maintain the rigor of the five-year assessment cycle, VBP+ performs an assessment of your operation every year. The cycle begins in year one with the on-farm assessment. Then, in years two through five of the assessment cycle, simple records assessments and self-declarations replace the on-farm assessment.

VBP+ is here to help!

VBP+ is committed to helping beef producers feel confident and prepared for their on-farm assessment. For more resources, producers are encouraged to contact their VBP+ provincial coordinator for more information or to explore these related resources:

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