National Beef Quality Audit - 2021: Survey of Instrument Grading Assessments and In-Plant Carcass Characteristics of Fed Steers and Heifers

Abstract

The National Beef Quality Audit is a recurring study that allows researchers to establish benchmarks the beef industry in the United States through assessments of cattle/carcass attributes through all stages of beef processing. The 2021 NBQA in-plant cooler assessments and instrument grading data collections took place from July 2021 to September 2022. During in-plant evaluations (n = 8,738 beef carcasses), 10% of one day’s production was surveyed for quality and yield indicating characteristics of fed beef carcasses. Distributions of sex class among sampled carcasses were steer (66.5%) and heifer (33.4%), while distributions of breed type were native (86.5%), dairy (12.6%), and Bos indicus (0.9%). Mean values were observed for USDA YG (3.3), overall USDA QG (Choice^19), marbling score (Modest^00), LMA (90.6 cm^2), AFT (1.47 cm), HCW (401.5 kg), and KPH (2.5%). 28.1% of carcasses were identified for use in a USDA certified beef G-Program. Defects, such as dark cutting and blood splash were observed at 1.7% and 0.5%, respectively. Distributions of USDA YG were YG 1 (6.9%), YG 2 (29.7%), YG 3 (40.9%), YG 4 (16.8%), and YG 5 (5.7%). USDA QGs were observed at 7.8% Prime, 70.0% Choice, 15.9% Select, and 6.3% Other. During instrument grading assessments (n = 4,418,768), one week’s worth of grade data was collected from 6 large scale beef processors each month from July 2021 to June 2022. The year-long data collected provide a view of the seasonality of the fed beef industry. Mean values were observed for USDA YG (3.3), marbling score (Modest^16), LMA (91.6 cm^2), AFT (1.55 cm), and HCW (400.6 kg). Distributions of USDA YG were YG 1 (7.9%), YG 2 (31.7%), YG 3 (40.0%), YG 4 (17.1%), and YG 5 (3.3%). Distributions of USDA QG were Prime (8.2%), Choice (74.7%), Select (15.8%), and other (1.4%). The highest frequency of carcasses grading Prime occurred on Monday (10.89%). HCW’s peaked in the months of December and January and decreased monthly towards June and July. These data provide snapshots of the current production standards in the United States. The findings allow sectors throughout the beef industry to analyze their position in the supply chain and attempt to produce positive change in areas of concerns.