USDA/MRP/AMS

Feeder Cattle Grading

USDA/MRP/AMS

North American Beef Breeds (World Wide >200) Amerifax Angus Ankina Barzona Beef Friesian Beefmaster Belgian Blue Belted Galloway Blonde d’ Aquitaine Braford Brahman Bramousin Brangus Brown Swiss Charbray Charolais Chianina Devon Dexter Galloway Gascon Gelbvieh Hays Converter Hereford Illamarra Limousin Lincoln Red Longhorn Romagnola Salers Santa Gertrudis Scotch Highlander Senepol Shorthorn Simbrah Simmental South Devon Tarentaise Watusi Welsh Black White Park Zebu Luing Maine-Anjou Marchigiana Milking Shorthorn Murray Grey Normande Norwegian Red Parthenais Piedmontese Pinzgauer Polled Hereford Red Angus Red Brangus Red 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 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

USDA/MRP/AMS U.S. Standards for Feeder Cattle OCTOBER 1, 2000 Previous Standards September, 1979 & (Select Official US Standards for Grades)

USDA/MRP/AMS Feeder Cattle Value Determining Factors Background Color Fill Horns Personal Preference Vaccinations Breed Condition/Flesh Frame Muscling Sex Weight

USDA/MRP/AMS Feeder Cattle Value Determining Factors Condition/Flesh Thriftiness Weight Change! Therefore, are not a sound basis for grade standards

USDA/MRP/AMS Feeder Cattle Value 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 Medium1100 – 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 LargeMedium 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 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. 1No. 2No. 3No. 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 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 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