The journey to deliver high quality beef is a process that starts at the pasture and ends at your dinner plate. Every stage in between plays a role in producing delicious meat for us to consume. The feedlot specifically is a critical stage where beef quality can really be impacted.
In the United States, there are three top grades of beef: prime, choice, and select. Every cut is graded by the amount of fat marbling in the muscle of the product. Only 2% of all beef in the United States is graded prime, while 83% is graded choice, and 15% is graded select.
Many factors go into achieving higher beef quality on the feedlot. It begins with selecting animals that are genetically superior for beef production. The amount of days they spend on feed, and the age that they finish, also play a big part in the final quality. Breeds like Angus, Hereford, and Wagyu all carry desirable traits. They produce excellent marbling and reach maturity much earlier than other breeds.
During the animal’s time on the feedlot, stress, and health all play a big part in the final quality. A study from the Iowa State University showed that animals treated two or more times for BRD had a 44% and 33% reduction in prime and choice grading respectively. When cattle are sick, they eat less and use more energy to fight off the illness and therefore less energy is available for growth and marbling. Certain injections to treat the illnesses can also lead to damaged muscle tissue. Similarly, stressed animals are more prone to injury, which also takes them off feed or can result in bruised meat.
Systems like HerdWhistle add a new level of quality assurance on the beef supply chain. HerdWhistle is a Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) system that works with feedlot operators to ensure the highest level of monitoring and care for their animals. Every animal on the feedlot is monitored 24/7 for the early signs of illness, injury, and distress. Feedlot operators are alerted to any issues ahead of time so they can take action to treat the animals.
When HerdWhistle is in use, consumers can expect and receive high-quality protein from responsible caretakers. The system works to help keep a healthy and stress free herd to ensure a better quality of beef leaves the feedlot for us to consume.
