Northeast Iowa | Burdick - 1/26/2025 07:38
WTH is high choice it’s either choice or it isn’t have never seen anything other than select choice or prime on a kill sheet
The percentage of cattle grading in the upper 2/3 of Choice (Avg Choice or High Choice) tends to run around 30-35% historically.
https://publicdashboards.dl.usda.gov/t/MRP_PUB/views/LPMeatGradingDa...
National USDA Certified Beef Program Information
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Percentage of the Choice Grade USDA Certified in the Upper 2/3rd: 30.12%
Percentage of cattle offered under Schedule GLA identified: 69.89%
Most of the premium programs for beef like Certified Angus Beef and others require the carcass to be at least in the upper 2/3 of Choice. Some of the half-blood Holstein-Angus crosses may get there on quality grade, but the grader may kick them out for looking too much like a dairy animal. That's requirement #7 of the ten CAB requirements below. It used to be described as "Having no dairy character."
1. Modest or higher marbling
2. 10- to 16-square-inch ribeye area*
3. 1,100-pound hot carcass weight or less
4. 1 inch or less fat thickness
5. Medium or fine marbling texture
6. 30 months of age or younger
7. Superior muscling
8. No neck hump exceeding 2 inches
9. Practically free of capillary rupture
10. No dark cutters
Here is a table with all kinds of premium beef brands / labels and the requirements for them. https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/LPSCertifiedBeefP... |
Holsteins
