National Beef Quality Audit-2016: assessment of cattle hide characteristics, offal condemnations, and carcass traits to determine the quality status of the market cow and bull beef industry.

M K Harris ,Ty B Schmidt,G Mafi ,R J Delmore ,T.e Lawrence ,Morgan Pfeiffer ,C R Kerth ,T D Pringle ,J W Savell ,K E Belk ,Chad Carr ,R J Maddock ,J N Martin ,D R Woerner ,D B Griffin ,D S Hale ,Tracy L Scheffler ,D D Johnson ,J D Hasty ,C A Boykin ,K B Gehring ,T J Mcevers ,D L Vanoverbeke ,L C Eastwood ,A N Arnold ,A M Stelzleni

doi:10.1093/tas/txx002

Abstract

To continue the series that began in 1994, the National Beef Quality Audit (NBQA) – 2016 was conducted to quantify the quality status of the market cow and bull beef sector, as well as determine improvements made in the beef and dairy industry since 2007. The NBQA-2016 was conducted from March through December of 2016, and assessed hide-on carcasses (n = 5,278), chilled carcasses (n = 4,285), heads (n = 5,720), and offal items (n = 4,800) in 18 commercial processing facilities throughout the United States. Beef cattle were predominantly black-hided; 68.0% of beef cows and 67.2% of beef bulls possessed a black hide. Holstein was the predominant type of dairy animal observed. Just over half (56.0%) of the cattle surveyed had no mud contamination on the hide, and when mud was present, 34.1% of cattle only had small amounts. Harvest floor assessments found 44.6% of livers, 23.1% of lungs, 22.3% of hearts, 20.0% of viscera, 8.2% of heads, and 5.9% of tongues were condemned. Liver condemnations were most frequently due to abscess presence. In contrast, contamination was the primary reason for condemnation of all other offal items. Of the cow carcasses surveyed, 17.4% carried a fetus at the time of harvest. As expected, mean carcass weight and loin muscle area values observed for bulls were heavier and larger than cows. The marbling scores represented by cull animal carcasses were most frequently slight and traces amounts. Cow carcasses manifested a greater amount of marbling on average than bull carcasses. The predominant fat color score showed all carcasses surveyed had some level of yellow fat. Only 1.3% of carcasses exhibited signs of arthritic joints. Results of the NBQA-2016 indicate there are areas in which the beef and dairy industries have improved and areas that still need attention to prevent value loss in market cows and bulls.

Highlights

Certain characteristics and conditions of cattle may impact harvest practices, as well as the overall value of carcasses and offal
When data are presented by gender and type (Table 2), 57.8% of dairy cows, 54.9% of beef cows, 52.8% of beef bulls, and 48.8% of dairy bulls had no visible mud
42.7% of all cattle surveyed in the National Beef Quality Audit (NBQA)-2007 (Nicholson, 2008) did not have mud on their hide, a lower frequency than we observed

Summary

Introduction

Certain characteristics and conditions of cattle may impact harvest practices, as well as the overall value of carcasses and offal. These frequently relate to production practices and can be improved through adjustments in management, thereby increasing the value of carcasses and offal. One such characteristic is hide contamination via mud and manure. Excessive hide contamination necessitates additional resources during harvest to prevent carcass contamination. Producers who understand the importance of hide condition at the time of harvest are more likely to employ management practices to minimize hide contamination

Methods

Results

Conclusion