title: Canadian beef quality audit.
abstract: A study was conducted in 4 Canadian processing plants in 1995-96 to determine the prevalence of quality defects in Canadian cattle. One percent of the annual number of cattle processed in Canada were evaluated on the processing floor and 0.1% were graded in the cooler. Brands were observed on 37% and multiple brands on 6% of the cattle. Forty percent of the cattle had horns, 20% of which were scurs, 33% were stubs, 10% were tipped, and 37% were full length. Tag (mud and manure on the hide) was observed on 34% of the cattle. Bruises were found on 78% of the carcasses, 81% of which were minor in severity. Fifteen percent of the bruises were located on the round, 29% on the loin, 40% on the rib, 16% on the chuck, and 0.02% on the brisket. Grubs were observed in 0.02% of the steers, and injection sites were observed in 1.3% of whole hanging carcasses. Seventy percent of the livers were passed for human food and 14% for pet food; 16% were condemned. Approximately 71% of the liver condemnations were due to liver abscesses. Four percent of the heads, 6% of the tongues, and 0.2% of whole carcasses were condemned. The pregnancy rate in female cattle was approximately 6.7%. The average hot carcass weight was 357 kg (s = 40) in steers, 325 kg (s = 41) in heifers, 305 kg (s = 53) in cows, 388 kg (s = 62) in virgin bulls and 340 kg (s = 39) in mature bulls. The average ribeye area in all cattle was 84 cm2 (s = 12); range 29 cm2 to 128 cm2. Grade fat was highly variable and averaged 9 mm (s = 4) for steers and heifers, 6 mm (s = 6) for cows, 5 mm (s = 1) for virgin bulls, and 4 mm (s = 0.5) for mature bulls. The average lean meat yield was 59.7% in cattle (s = 3.4); range 39% to 67%. One percent of the carcasses were devoid of marbling, 1% were dark cutters, and 0.05% of the steer carcasses were staggy. Six percent of the carcasses had poor conformation, 3.7% were underfinished, and 0.7% were overfinished. Yellow fat was observed in 4% of the carcasses; 10% of carcasses were aged. Based on January 1996 prices, the economic analysis showed that the Canadian beef industry lost $70.52 per head or $189.6 million annually from quality nonconformities. Methods identified to reduce these nonconformities included improvements in management, animal identification, handling, genetic selection, marketing, grading, and information transfer.
authors.affiliation: Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Alberta.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Donkersgoed
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jewison
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cherry
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Altwasser
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lower
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wiggins
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dejonge
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Thorlakson
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moss
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mills
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Grogan
mesh_terms: D000003:Abattoirs / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D000818:Animals; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D002170:Canada; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005375:Financial Audit; D005525:Food-Processing Industry / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008330:Management Audit; D008460:Meat / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011786:Quality Control