USDA/MRP/AMS

USDA/MRP/AMS

Feeder Cattle Grading

USDA/MRP/AMS

USDA/MRP/AMS

North American Beef Breeds 70-80 (World Wide >200)

AmerifaxAngusAnkinaBarzonaBeef FriesianBeefmasterBelgian BlueBelted GallowayBlonde d’ AquitaineBrafordBrahmanBramousinBrangusBrown Swiss

CharbrayCharolaisChianinaDevonDexterGallowayGasconGelbviehHays ConverterHerefordIllamarraLimousinLincoln RedLonghorn

RomagnolaSalersSanta GertrudisScotch HighlanderSenepolShorthornSimbrahSimmentalSouth DevonTarentaiseWatusiWelsh BlackWhite ParkZebu

LuingMaine-AnjouMarchigianaMilking ShorthornMurray GreyNormandeNorwegian RedParthenaisPiedmontesePinzgauerPolled HerefordRed AngusRed BrangusRed Poll

USDA/MRP/AMS

Feeder Cattle Standards are –

Common trade language between buyers and sellers

USDA/MRP/AMS

Feeder Cattle Standards are –

A tool for penning cattle @ officially graded sales (commingled ownership)

Used to certify feeder cattle grades for futures contracts

USDA/MRP/AMS

Feeder Cattle Standards are –

Basis for federal-state livestock market news reporting

Weight Price Comments

450-500 103.50-107.50500-550 99.00-106.25550-600 88.25-97.00600-650 85.00-93.00650-700 83.00-86.50700-750 82.00-82.25750-800 80.75-83.75800-850 78.00-82.50

USDA/MRP/AMS

U.S. Standards for Feeder Cattle

OCTOBER 1, 2000 Previous Standards September, 1979 &

1964 www.ams.usda.gov/lsg/stand/st-pub (Select

Official US Standards for Grades)

USDA/MRP/AMS

Feeder CattleValue Determining Factors

Background

Color

Fill

Horns

Personal Preference

Vaccinations

Breed

Condition/Flesh

Frame

Muscling

Sex

Weight

USDA/MRP/AMS

Feeder CattleValue Determining Factors

Condition/Flesh

Thriftiness

Weight

Change!

Therefore, are not a sound basis for grade standards

USDA/MRP/AMS

Feeder CattleValue Determining Factors

Sex

An inappropriate factor since most feeder

cattle are sorted by sex BEFORE the sale

USDA/MRP/AMS

USDA Feeder Cattle Grades

Frame

Muscling

USDA/MRP/AMS

USDA Feeder Cattle Grades

Frame Size

Steer (lbs.) Heifer (lbs.)

Large > 1250 > 1150

Medium 1100 – 1250 1000 - 1150

Small < 1100 < 1000

Relates to finished weight –

given degree of fatness to grade Choice

Skeletal size (height & length) in relation to age

USDA/MRP/AMS

US No. 1

(moderately thick)

US No. 3

(Thin)

US No. 2

(TTB slightly thick)

US No. 4

Relates to muscle to bone ratio at a given

degree of fatness and hence yield grade

USDA Feeder Cattle Grades

Muscle Thickness Score October 2000

USDA/MRP/AMS

USDA Feeder Cattle Grades

Frame Size

Large Medium

Small

USDA/MRP/AMS

USDA Feeder Cattle Grades

Frame Size - Large

Tall and long bodied

½ inch fat

Steers over 1250 lbs.

Heifers over 1150 lbs.

USDA/MRP/AMS

USDA Feeder Cattle Grades

Frame Size - Medium

Slightly tall

Slightly long bodied

½ inch fat

Steers 1100 to 1250 lbs.

Heifers 1000 to 1150 lbs.

USDA/MRP/AMS

USDA Feeder Cattle Grades

Frame Size - Small

Not as tall as Medium

Short bodied

½ inch fat

Steers less than 1100 lbs.

Heifers less than 1000 lbs.

USDA/MRP/AMS

USDA/MRP/AMS

USDA/MRP/AMS

USDA/MRP/AMS

USDA/MRP/AMS

USDA Feeder Cattle Grades

Frame Size – Relative to maturity

Length of tail

Coarseness of hair in switch

Width of muzzle

Coarseness of hair on poll

Size of feet, ears, base of horns, etc.

USDA/MRP/AMS

Jorgenson’s Muscling Theory

USDA/MRP/AMS

USDA Feeder Cattle Grades

Muscle Thickness Scores

No. 1 No. 2 No. 3 No. 4

USDA/MRP/AMS

USDA Feeder Cattle Grades

Muscle Thickness Scores – No. 1

Moderately thick throughout

Predominate beef breeding

USDA/MRP/AMS

USDA Feeder Cattle Grades

Muscle Thickness Scores – No. 2

Slightly thick throughout

High proportion beef breeding/Slight dairy breeding

USDA/MRP/AMS

USDA Feeder Cattle Grades

Muscle Thickness Scores – No. 3

Thin throughout

Legs are set close together

USDA/MRP/AMS

USDA Feeder Cattle Grades

Muscle Thickness Scores – No. 4

Less thickness than No. 3

USDA/MRP/AMS

USDA/MRP/AMS

USDA Feeder Cattle Grades

Inferior

Mismanagement

Disease

Parasitism

Any condition that must be corrected before the animal can perform normally!

Double muscled animals

USDA/MRP/AMS

USDA/MRP/AMS

USDA/MRP/AMS

USDA/MRP/AMS

USDA Feeder Cattle Grades

A Communication Tool

Weight & Sex

Comments

Condition/Flesh

Breed characteristics

Special sales

Pre-Vac, Weaned, Conditioned

USDA Grade PLUS

USDA/MRP/AMS