About SQA
Sheep Quality Assurance (SQA) is a national program that maximizes consumer confidence through best production and management practices to produce the safest and highest quality sheep products for a sustainable U.S. sheep industry.
The program is designed to help sheep producers improve their production practices through education and certification. The program addresses sheep care, food safety, biosecurity, transportation and sustainability.
Producers that are SQA certified are eligible to participate in the American Wool Assurance (AWA) program. The AWA standards provides confidence to the global marketplace that American wool is produced using high standards of care and handling. To learn more visit the AWA website.
Q&A
Why should I become SQA certified?
SQA helps sheep producers continually improve production practices and lamb quality to produce the safest and highest quality sheep products. When sheep producers implement best management and production practices they capture more value from their lamb and wool products. Consumers want to feel confident about animal welfare practices, sustainability, and the safety of the food products they consume. The SQA guidelines are designed to make certain consumers can trust and have confidence in the entire sheep and wool industry, and to support a sustainable U.S. sheep industry.
Is this program mandatory?
No, this program is voluntary and open to any sheep producer or industry member in the U.S.
How do I become SQA certified?
SQA certification can be completed through an online course. To access the online course, you will be required to create an account. Visit https://www.americanwoolassurance.org/sign-up/ to access the online course.
What are the costs?
There are no fees to be SQA certified.
I am a youth that raises and shows sheep. Should I become SQA certified?
SQA is open to anyone that raises sheep. For youth, we recommend the Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) program as it is an educational experience for those between the ages 8 to 21 who show or raise livestock. YQCA certification is being accepted by many livestock shows and fairs that require youth quality assurance certification.
Contact
SQA
AWA
Program
American Sheep
Industry Association