Beef Carcass Evaluation

AS101

Beef Packing Industry

• Packing Plants– Tyson, JBS, CMS, National– Daily Slaughter Capacity

• 128,000

• 82% steers & heifers ~ 105,000

• 23,000 cows & bulls

Beef Packing Industry

• USDA Grading– Line Speed ~ 350/hr 1 carcass per 10 seconds

• USDA Grading Procedures– Yield Grade– Quality Grade

Yield Grading

• Hot carcass weight– Posted on carcass

Market Animal Evaluation

• USDA Grading Service– Livestock & Grain Standardization Branch

– Voluntary

– Paid for by the packer

• USDA Inspection – Conducted by FSIS

– Mandatory

– Paid for by tax payers

– Insures food wholesomeness

Market Animal Evaluation

• USDA Grading Service– Livestock & Grain Standardization Branch– Voluntary– Paid for by the packer

• USDA Grades– Yield grade – measures the lean to fat ratio

– Quality – measures the palatability of the meat

Yield Grading

• Back fat – Measured at the 12th rib

• Ribeye area– Measured in2

– Use a grid• 10 dots = 1 in2

Yield Grading

• Kidney, Pelvic, Heart Fat– KPH– 1 lb – size of a soft ball

Quality Grading

1) Maturity– Ossification of vertebra

• Sacral

• Lumbar

• Thoracic

– Color of lean

Quality Grading

2) Marbling– Intramuscular fat content

• Quantity

• Fineness

• Distribution

Degrees of Marbling

• Abundant ~ – Prime

• Modest ~ – Upper 2/3 Choice

• Small ~– Choice

• Slight ~– Select

Determining Class

1) Steer- Rough

2) Heifer

- Smooth

3) Bull

- Crest

4) Cow

- Bone

Wholesale Cuts

Wholesale cuts $/lbs1) Rib 2.072) Loin 2.01

- Short loin- Sirloin

3) Round 1.324) Chuck 1.105) Brisket .786) Flank .847) Short plate .72

Steaks - Rib eye - Prime rib

Wholesale Cuts

Steaks - T Bone - Strips - Porter House - Tenderloin

Wholesale cuts $/lbs1) Rib 2.07

2) Loin 2.01- Short loin- Sirloin

3) Round 1.324) Chuck 1.105) Brisket .786) Flank .847) Short plate .72

Wholesale Cuts

Steaks & Roasts - Sirloins - Eye of the Round - Ground Beef

Wholesale cuts $/lbs1) Rib 2.072) Loin 2.01

- Short loin- Sirloin

3) Round 1.324) Chuck 1.105) Brisket .786) Flank .847) Short plate .72

Wholesale Cuts

Ground Beef - Blade or Arm Steaks

- More Research

Wholesale cuts $/lbs1) Rib 2.072) Loin 2.01

- Short loin- Sirloin

3) Round 1.32

4) Chuck 1.105) Brisket .786) Flank .847) Short plate .72

Wholesale Cuts

Brisket Fresh CornedShank Stew meat

Wholesale cuts $/lbs1) Rib 2.072) Loin 2.01

- Short loin- Sirloin

3) Round 1.324) Chuck 1.10

5) Brisket .786) Flank .847) Short plate .72

Wholesale Cuts

Flank Steak Fijita’s

Wholesale cuts $/lbs1) Rib 2.072) Loin 2.01

- Short loin- Sirloin

3) Round 1.324) Chuck 1.105) Brisket .78

6) Flank .847) Short plate .72

Wholesale Cuts

Short RibsGround Beef

Wholesale cuts $/lbs1) Rib 2.072) Loin 2.01

- Short loin- Sirloin

3) Round 1.324) Chuck 1.105) Brisket .786) Flank .84

7) Short plate .72

Drop Credit / Offal

Hide 45.00

Tallow 5.00

Tongue 3.75

Meat/Bone meal 4.50

Oxtail 4.00

Other edible 13.00

Tripe (Rumen) 3.50

Other 15.25

• Total/head 100.00

Pricing Carcasses

Base 134/cwt

Yield Grade1 + 2.002 + 1.00

--------4 -15.005 -25.00

Quality GradePrime + 5.00Choice+ + 3.00Choice0 + 3.00Choice- -----Select -10.00Standard -25.00

Carcass Wt<550 -1500

550-950 -----

>950 -1500

Steer #1 Wt. 1371

Steer # 1

• Wt - 1371

• HCW- 809 needs 13.5

• DP -59%

• BF - .5 PYG 3.3

• REA - 14.8 diff 1.3” adj. -.4

• KPH – 2.0 % adj. -.3

• YG – 2.7

• Marbling

• QG –

Steer # 1

• Wt - 1371

• HCW- 809 needs 13.5

• DP -59%

• BF - .5 PYG 3.3

• REA - 14.8 diff 1.3” adj. -.4

• KPH – 2.0 % adj. -.3

• YG – 2.7

• Marbling Small20

• QG – Choice -

Steer #2 Wt. 1440

Steer #2 Wt. 1440

Steer # 2

• Wt - 1440

• HCW – 880 needs 14.3

• DP – 61.1%

• BF - .8 PYG 4.0

• REA – 13.8 diff” -.5 adj. +.2

• KPH – 2.5 % adj. -.2

• YG – 4.0

• Marbling Score –

• QG –

Steer # 2

• Wt - 1440

• HCW – 880 needs 14.3

• DP – 61.1%

• BF - .8 PYG 4.0

• REA – 13.8 diff” -.5 adj. +.2

• KPH – 2.5 % adj. -.2

• YG – 4.0

• Marbling Score – Sl Abundant

• QG – Prime -

Steer #3 Wt. 1473

Steer # 3

• Wt - 1473

• HCW – 876 needs 14.3

• DP - 59%

• BF - .3 PYG 2.8

• REA – 11.2 diff –1.1 adj. +.9

• KPH – 3.0% adj. -.1

• YG - 3.6

• Marbling Score –

• QG -

Steer # 3

• Wt - 1473

• HCW – 876 needs 14.3

• DP - 59%

• BF - .3 PYG 2.8

• REA – 11.2 diff –1.1 adj. +.9

• KPH – 3.0% adj. -.1

• YG - 3.6

• Marbling Score – Modest

• QG - Choice Average