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AMS - Beefcarcassrevisions

From: Cline, Kyle <KCline@infarmbureau.org>

Sent: Thursday, November 13, 2014 1:26 PM

To: AMS - Beefcarcassrevisions

Subject: IFB Comment for AMS-LPS-14-0052 U.S. Standards for Grades of Carcass Beef

Attachments: IFB Comment on Doc. No. AMS-LPS-14-0052 U.S. Standards for Grades of Carcass Beef 

FINAL.docx

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Follow Up Flag: Follow up

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Hello,

  

Please find our official comment for the Do. No. AMS‐LPS‐14‐0052 U.S. Standards for Grades of Carcass Beef proposal

attached.   

  

Thank  you.

  

Best,

  

Kyle

  

Kyle P. Cline

Policy Advisor, National Government Relations

Indiana Farm Bureau

Office: (317) 692-7845

Mobile: (317) 502-7415

kcline@infarmbureau.org

  

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November 13, 2014

Beef Carcass Revisions, Standardization Branch, LPS Program

AMS, USDA

1400 Independence Ave., SW.,

STOP 0258

Washington, D.C. 20250

RE: Docket No. AMS-LPS-14-0052

Dear Director Whalen,

On behalf of the Indiana Farm Bureau and our 72,000 farmer members, we would like to thank you 

for the opportunity to comment on the United States Standards for Grades of Carcass Beef (Doc. 

No. AMS-LPS-14-0052) proposal as written by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). 

This comment is meant to express our support of the proposed changes to this process, specifically 

regarding the maturity classification system and the revision for calculating yield grade (YG). 

As you may be aware, the policy development process within the American Farm Bureau Federation 

is held to the highest standards of democratic discourse and grassroots involvement of our farmer 

members. Each year, our members are involved in shaping the policy direction of our organization 

and delegates confirm these positions after consensus is reached. The American Farm Bureau 

Federation (AFBF) policy on the issue of livestock grading supports changes to grading standards “if 

scientific research shows that changes will provide leaner, more acceptable beef, lamb and pork that 

will benefit consumers, processors and producers.”

After a review of the proposed U.S. Standards for Grades of Carcass Beef, the Indiana Farm Bureau 

believes that ample scientific evidence exists to support AMS proposed changes to beef grading and 

that such changes would make appropriate changes to the grading process that better reflect modern 

agriculture and benefit cattle producers. 

First, under the proposed changes, steers and heifers classed as 30 months of age or younger based 

on dentition would receive maturity classification A, even if skeletal characteristics (bone 

ossification) is consistent with maturity classification B. This proposed change is based on recent 

research indicating that meat from steers and heifers 30 months of age and under exhibits sensory 

characteristics consistent with maturity classification A regardless of skeletal characteristics. 

Second, the proposal would revise the formula for calculating yield grade (YG) from hot carcass 

weight and longissimus muscle area (LMA). The current formula for calculating YG on beef 

carcasses was developed in the 1960s. Over the years, cattle genetics and feeding practices have 

changed dramatically. Of most direct relevance on this issue is the fact that carcasses are, on 
average, much heavier than they were when these calculations were developed. Research indicates 

that the current formula systematically underestimates retail meat yield from heavier carcasses, 

leading to more of these carcasses being classed as YG 4s and 5s.

It appears that both of these potential changes would likely benefit producers selling cattle on 

quality/yield grids by reducing the number of YG 4s and 5s and hard-boned cattle, which generally 

receive substantial discounts. At the same time, the changes are supported by a significant body of 

research indicating that meat quality and consumer eating experience would not be compromised. 

Because of these observations and supporting scientific evidence, we express our support for this 

proposal and the changes.

Sincerely,

 

Kyle Cline

National Policy Advisor

Indiana Farm Bureau