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Beef Grades

  • 12-10-2011 1:59pm
    #1
    Muckit
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,174 ✭✭✭✭


    Could we get a tread going here about beef grades? I personally haven't a clue how to judge an animal and guess how it'd grade out!

    Perhaps lads 'in the know' could throw up a few pics with a grade along side?

    Thanks in advance

    Muckit


Comments

  • #2
    49801
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,844 ✭✭✭49801


    Something I am working on improving too
    Check out this Game
    or this document
    Eblex

    takes a lot of practice.
    be very interesting if they auto graded animals in the mart but pig would fly first:D


  • #3
    MfMan
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,506 ✭✭✭MfMan


    The better the beef breed, the better the grade. Only the very top bred Belgian Blues (BB), Charolais (CH) and Limosins (LM) will grade E. Very good examples of these should grade U. The more moderate of these should grade R along with Simmentals (SIM) and good Herefords (HE). The plainer native breeds such as Herefords, Shorthorns, Angus and plainer charolais, an occasional Freisan usually grade O with dairy breeds such as Freisans, Jersey, Ayrshire grading P, the lowest category. These categories are subdivided 2 - 5 with 2 being too lean and 4 -5 being overfat. Think divisions may also be subdivided again in to + - = R+4- and better are most desirable as they'll get the bonus.

    BBX and LMX are probably the easiest to get to grade U and those that do usually have wide, curved almost semi-circular rumps. CHX tend to be straighter and squarer, but also can surprise on the upside - I sent away 2 recently that I thought were average and they graded well. Cattle that are plainer at the back with rumps narrowing in to the tailbone won't generally grade too well. Feeding meal for a good 5-6+ weeks prior to slaughter could improve a marginal animal upwards a grade. With the introduction of the grid-based payments, grading has obviously taken on an even greater importance.

    Not sure where you can go for more info or publications, Teagasc or Bord Bia may have some handouts etc. If you haven't already, see

    http://www.teagasc.ie/newsletters/2010/cattle-201001.pdf


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