Sl. Boleman et al., NATIONAL BEEF QUALITY AUDIT 1995 - SURVEY OF PRODUCER-RELATED DEFECTSAND CARCASS QUALITY AND QUANTITY ATTRIBUTES, Journal of animal science, 76(1), 1998, pp. 96-103
The National Beef Quality Audit-1995 was conducted to evaluate the pro
gress of the beef industry since the time of the National Beef Quality
Audit-1991 in improving quality and consistency of beef. Nine plants
were assigned for auditing to Colorado State University, Oklahoma Stat
e University, and Texas A&M University. Personnel from each institutio
n visited three of their nine plants twice, once in the spring/summer
and once in the fall/winter. Data were collected on 50% of each lot on
the slaughter floor and 10% in the cooler during a single day's produ
ction (one or two shifts, as appropriate). Of the cattle audited on th
e slaughter floor, 47.7% had no brands, 3.0% had a shoulder brand, 16.
8% had a side brand, 38.7% had a butt brand, and 6.2% had brands in mu
ltiple locations. Data revealed that; 51.6% of the carcasses had no br
uises, 30.9% had one bruise, 12.8% had two bruises, 3.7% had three bru
ises, .9% had four bruises, and .1% had more than four bruises. In add
ition, 7.2% of the bruises evaluated were located on the round, 41.1%
were on the loin, 20.8% on the rib, and 30.8% on the chuck. Livers, lu
ngs, tripe, heads, tongues, and whole carcasses were condemned at rate
s of 22.2, 5.0, 11.0, .9, 3.8, and .1%, respectively. Mean USDA yield
grade and quality grade traits were as follows: USDA yield grade, 2.8;
carcass weight, 338.4 kg; adjusted fat thickness, 1.2 cm; longissimus
muscle area, 81.9 cm(2); kidney, pelvic, and heart fat, 2.1%; USDA qu
ality grade, High Select; overall maturity, A(60); and Marbling score,
Small-minus.