title: National Beef Quality Audit-2011: Harvest-floor assessments of targeted characteristics that affect quality and value of cattle, carcasses, and byproducts.
abstract: The National Beef Quality Audit-2011 (NBQA-2011) was conducted to assess targeted characteristics on the harvest floor that affect the quality and value of cattle, carcasses, and byproducts. Survey teams evaluated approximately 18,000 cattle/carcasses between May and November 2011 in 8 beef processing facilities. Cattle identification methods were lot visual tags (85.7%), individual visual tags (50.6%), electronic tags (20.1%), metal-clip tags (15.7%), other (5.3%), none (2.5%), and wattles (0.5%). Hide colors or breed types were black (61.1%), red (12.8%), yellow (8.7%), Holstein (5.5%), brown (5.0%), gray (5.0%), white (1.4%), and brindle (1.0%). Brand frequencies were none (55.2%), 1 (40.4%), 2 (4.4%), and 3 or more (0.04%) brands, and brands were located on the butt (35.2%), side (9.0%), and shoulder (2.5%). Hide locations of mud or manure were no mud/manure (49.2%), legs (36.8%), belly (23.7%), side (14.9%), top-line (11.0%), and tail region (13.7%). There were 76.2% of cattle without horns, and the majority of those with horns (71.6%) were between 0 cm and 12.7 cm in length. Permanent incisor numbers were zero (87.3%), 1 (1.4%), 2 (8.0%), 3 (0.9%), 4 (1.9%), 5 (0.3%), 6 (0.2%), 7 (0.1%), and 8 (0.02%). Most carcasses (77.0%) were not bruised, 18.7% had 1 bruise, 3.4% had 2 bruises, 0.6% had 3 bruises, and 0.3% had more than 3 bruises. Bruise locations were loin (50.1%), rib (21.3%), chuck (13.8%), round (7.3%), and brisket/flank/plate (7.5%). Condemnation item and incidence were whole carcass (none recorded), liver (20.9%), lungs (17.3%), tongue (10.0%), viscera (9.3%), and head (7.2%). Compared with the NBQA-2005, the NBQA-2011 had an increased percentage of black-hided cattle (56.3 vs. 61.1%), more cattle with brands (38.7 vs. 44.8%), and more cattle with some form of identification (93.3 vs. 97.5%). In addition, there was a lesser percentage of carcasses with bruising in 2011 (23.0%) than in 2005 (35.2%), as well as a smaller percentage of carcasses with more than 1 bruise (2005 = 9.4% vs. 2011 = 4.2%). Compared with the 2005 audit, a similar percentage of the cattle were deemed 30 mo of age or older using dentition (2005 = 2.7% vs. 2011 = 3.3%). The information from NBQA-2011 helps the beef industry measure progress against previous NBQA assessments and provides a benchmark for future educational and research activities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843-2471, USA.
authors.forename: R O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: McKeith
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Hale
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Kerth
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Savell
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Raines
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Belk
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Woerner
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Tatum
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Igo
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: VanOverbeke
authors.forename: G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Mafi
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Lawrence
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Delmore
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Shackelford
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Wheeler
authors.forename: L R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Meadows
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: O'Connor
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000823:Animal Identification Systems; D000818:Animals; D001823:Body Composition; D002417:Cattle / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D008297:Male; D008372:Manure / Q000032:analysis; D008460:Meat / Q000592:standards*; D008461:Meat Products / Q000592:standards; D008462:Meat-Packing Industry / Q000592:standards*; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D008372:Manure