Research Summary - 3
Enhancing Cattle Production Education Through the Development of Spanish‑Language Resources
| Date/Time: |
8/29/2026
09:30
|
| Author: |
Cindy Valdez Nolasco |
| Clinic: |
National Cattlemen's Beef Association |
| City, State, ZIP: |
Centennial, CO 80112 |
C. Valdez Nolasco, BS
1
;
M. Clowser, MS
1
;
L. Rivera, MVZ
2
;
M. Calvo-Lorenzo, MS, PhD
3
;
M. Guerra Maupome, PhD, DVM
4
;
J. Herman, DVM, MS, DACVPM
1
;
1National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Centennial, CO, 80112
2TRADU-C, Mexico City, Mexico
3Elanco Animal Health, Greenfield, IN 46140
4TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods, Okotoks, Alberta, Canada
Introduction:
Rural agriculture and veterinary medicine continues to experience workforce shortages and limited access to educational resources. With fewer veterinarians entering rural, food-animal or mixed-animal practice, providing practical training tools are essential. Agriculture remains one of the most hazardous industries, with many worker injuries involving machinery and animals. Accessible training material can improve both human and animal safety while supporting efficient cattle management.
The Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program has provided producer education and veterinary training tools for decades. As the cattle industry evolves, so does the workforce responsible for cattle care, and English is not the primary language for many workers. To meet this need, BQA has expanded its written, visual, and video resources in Spanish to support veterinarians and industry experts in their training efforts.
Veterinarians are key to on‑farm training that influences animal welfare, herd health, and productivity. Workers prefer safety information in person, at the work site, and in their primary language. Labor costs are high on cattle operations, so clear, language‑appropriate materials improve training efficiency.
Materials and methods:
A Spanish-Speaking Working Group composed of veterinarians, PhD candidates, extension personnel, producers, and cattle caretakers from multiple sectors of the beef industry was created to address gaps in employee education and guide resource development. The group established consistent terminology across regional dialects and identified priority materials for translation. Drafts were reviewed collaboratively, and revisions were made to improve clarity, accuracy, and cultural relevance. The group also emphasized the importance of inclusive representation, leading to the creation of new photos and training videos featuring Spanish‑speaking workers. Materials were further adapted for varying literacy levels to support veterinarians and industry experts in delivering effective training.
Results:
Spanish‑language BQA resources were developed and are continuing to be expanded, including translated written materials, visual guides, and instructional videos featuring Spanish‑speaking personnel. Standardized terminology improved consistency across materials, and inclusive imagery was incorporated based on stakeholder feedback. Resources are being adapted for varying literacy levels to enhance usability. Collectively, these outputs provide veterinarians and producers with accessible, culturally relevant tools to support training on operations employing Spanish‑speaking employees. Translated resources currently available include the BQA National Manual, Field Guide, and worker training and cattle behavior videos.
Significance:
The cattle industry’s need for accessible Spanish‑language training continues to be a gap. This project identified and addressed this concern through the collaborative development of Spanish BQA resources and multimedia tools. Subject matter experts have expressed strong support for the materials, and early feedback from Spanish‑speaking cattle employees indicates improved clarity, relevance, and usability. Ensuring resources are publicly accessible on sites such as BQA.org and YouTube will continue to be a priority. Ongoing expansion of these resources will further strengthen veterinary training, practice sustainability, employee safety, and animal care across diverse cattle operations.
