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Department of Animal Science

Beef Practice

Click on each of the 10 different beef practices below to do practice evaluations.

Beef Practice Number 1
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Description: Holstein Heifer, 1600 lbs.

Make estimates for the following:

  • Dressing Percent
  • Hot Carcass Weight
  • Back Fat
  • Ribeye Area
  • KPH
  • Yield Grade
  • Maturity
  • Marbling Score
  • Quality Grade

Answers:

  • Dressing Percent - 59.7
  • Hot Carcass Weight - 958
  • Back Fat - .50
  • Ribeye Area - 13
  • KPH - 2
  • Yield Grade - 3.9
  • Maturity - A70
  • Marbling Score - MdAb10
  • Quality Grade - Prime Average

Comments: This was a very large Holstein heifer that was three years of age. She was well finished which, combined with her age, aided in her high marbling score. She certainly wasn't a typical Holstein.

Beef Practice Number 2
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Description: Black Heifer, 1230 lbs.

Make Estimates for the following:

  • Dressing Percent
  • Hot Carcass Weight
  • Back Fat
  • Ribeye Area
  • KPH
  • Yield Grade
  • Maturity
  • Marbling Score
  • Quality Score

Answers:

  • Dressing Percent - 61.5
  • Hot Carcass Weight - 757
  • Back Fat - .70
  • Ribeye Area - 11.7
  • KPH - 2
  • Yield Grade - 3.9
  • Maturity - C10/B80/C0
  • Marbling Score - Sm10
  • Quality Score - Commercial

Comments: This heifer appeared to be younger than she really was. We called her bone a C10, her lean a B80, with a final maturity call of C0 which puts her at Low Commercial.

Beef Practice Number 3
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Description: Hereford Steer, 1150 lbs.

Make an estimate for the following:

  • Dressing Percent
  • Hot Carcass Weight
  • Back Fat
  • Ribeye Area
  • KPH
  • Yield Grade
  • Maturity
  • Marbling Score
  • Quality Grade

Answers:

  • Dressing Percent - 59
  • Hot Carcass Weight - 680
  • Back Fat - .20
  • Ribeye Area - 12.7
  • KPH - 1.5
  • Yield Grade - 1.9
  • Maturity - A50
  • Marbling Score - Small40
  • Quality Grade - Choice

Comments: This steer graded extremely well for looking as though he needed more days on feed. He also had more muscle than you would assume he had after analyzing him from the rear view.

Beef Practice Number 4
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Description: Black Baldy Steer, 1375 lbs.

Make an estimate for the following:

  • Dressing Percent
  • Hot Carcass Weight
  • Back Fat
  • Ribeye Area
  • KPH
  • Yield Grade
  • Maturity
  • Marbling Score
  • Quality Grade

Answers:

  • Dressing Percent - 62
  • Hot Carcass Weight - 850
  • Back Fat - .35
  • Ribeye Area - 14.7
  • KPH - 1.5
  • Yield Grade - 2.3
  • Maturity - A40
  • Marbling Score - Slight80
  • Quality Grade - Select

Comments: This was a stout steer that was very trim and probably could have used some more days on feed.

Beef Practice Number 5
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Description: Red Baldy Heifer, 1365 lbs.

Make an estimate of the following:

  • Dressing Percent
  • Hot Carcass Weight
  • Back Fat
  • Ribeye Area
  • KPH
  • Yield Grade
  • Maturity
  • Marbling Score
  • Quality Grade

Answers:

  • Dressing Percent - 61
  • Hot Carcass Weight - 828
  • Back Fat - .90
  • Ribeye Area - 10.8
  • KPH - 2.5
  • Yield Grade - 5.2
  • Maturity - A80
  • Marbling Score - Moderate30
  • Quality Grade - Choice

Comments: This was an old heifer that was with calf which would explain her lower dressing percent. As you can tel by her live pictures, she is extremely over-conditioned.

Beef Practice Number 6
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Description: Hereford Heifer, 1045 lbs.

Make an estimate for the following:

  • Dressing Percent
  • Hot Carcass Weight
  • Back Fat
  • Ribeye Area
  • KPH 
  • Yield Grade
  • Maturity
  • Marbling Score
  • Quality Grade

Answers:

  • Dressing Percent - 59.3
  • Hot Carcass Weight - 620
  • Back Fat - .45 
  • Ribeye Area - 10.1
  • KPH - 2.5
  • Yield Grade - 3.3
  • Maturity - A60
  • Marbling Score - Moderately Abundant20
  • Quality Grade - Prime Average

Comments: This steer graded extremely well.

Beef Practice Number 7
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Description: Holstein Steer, 1215 lbs.

Make an estimate for the following:

  • Dressing Percent
  • Hot Carcass Weight
  • Back Fat
  • Ribeye Area
  • KPH
  • Yield Grade
  • Maturity
  • Marbling Score
  • Quality Grade

Answers:

  • Dressing Percent - 58.1
  • Hot Carcass Weight - 703
  • Back Fat - 22
  • Ribeye Area - 9.5
  • KPH - 2
  • Yield Grade - 3.1
  • Maturity - A50
  • Marbling Score - Modest20
  • Quality Grade - Choice Average

Comments: This Holstein steer was very trim and was not very muscular. He did still have a good quality grade.

Beef Practice Number 8
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Description: Angus Steer, 1205 lbs.

Make an estimate for the following:

  • Dressing Percent
  • Hot Carcass Weight
  • Back Fat 
  • Ribeye Area
  • KPH
  • Yield Grade
  • Maturity
  • Marbling Score
  • Quality Grade

Answers:

  • Dressing Percent - 61.8
  • Hot Carcass Weight - 745
  • Back Fat - 40
  • Ribeye Area - 13.1
  • KPH - 1.5
  • Yield Grade - 2.5
  • Maturity - A50 
  • Marbling Score - Slight60
  • Quality Grade - Select

Comments: This steer was very trim looking and appeared to need more days on feed to meet the Choice Grade.

Beef Practice Number 9
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Description: Angus Cross Heifer, 1305 lbs.

Make an estimate for the following:

  • Dressing Percent
  • Hot Carcass Weight
  • Back Fat
  • Ribeye Area
  • KPH
  • Yield Grade
  • Maturity
  • Marbling Score
  • Quality Grade

Answers:

  • Dressing Percent - 58.2
  • Hot Carcass Weight - 760
  • Back Fat - .43
  • Ribeye Area - 12.9
  • KPH - 2
  • Yield Grade - 2.9
  • Maturity - B60/A80/B10
  • Marbling Score - Small20
  • Quality Grade - Standard

Comments: This was an interesting heifer. She was with calf which explains her low dressing percentage. She also had less back fat and was older than she appeared. Under the grading rules (1997), she would be considered Standard because she had a B maturity

Beef Practice Number 10
The referenced media source is missing and needs to be re-embedded.
Description: Crossbred Heifer, 1400 lbs.

Make an estimate for the following:

  • Dressing Percent
  • Hot Carcass Weight
  • Back Fat
  • Ribeye Area
  • KPH
  • Yield Grade
  • Maturity
  • Marbling Score
  • Quality Grade

Answers:

  • Dressing Percent - 57.4
  • Hot Carcass Weight - 804
  • Back Fat - .50
  • Ribeye Area - 12.5
  • KPH - 2.5
  • Yield Grade - 3.5
  • Maturity - A70
  • Marbling Score - Small40
  • Quality Grade - Choice

Comments: This heifer was obviously with calf as evidenced by her udder and midsection, which explains her abnormally low dressing percentage.