Market Classes - Cattle Grades

Quality and yield grades are placed on slaughter cattle while frame size and muscle thickness grades are placed on feeder cattle.

Slaughter Cattle Grades

Quality grades are affected by marbling and maturity.

Grades include:

Prime		Commercial
Choice		Utility
Select		Cutter
Standard		Canner

1. thickness of fat over ribeye
2. area of the ribeye muscle
3. percentage of kidney, pelvic and heart fat
4. carcass weight

Yield Grades

USDA 1	Highest Yield
USDA 2
USDA 3
USDA 4
USDA 5	Lowest Yield

Feeder Cattle Grades

Feeder cattle grades are affected by frame size, muscle thickness and thriftiness.

Large Frame Tall and long for age Steers: > 1200 lbs Heifers: > 1000 lbs	Medium Frame Slightly tall and slightly long for age Steers: 1000 -1200 lbs Heifers: 850 - 1000 lbs