• 

United States 

Department of 

Agriculture 

Agricultural 

Marketing 

Serviee 

Uvestoek 

and Seed 

Program 

United States Standards 

for Grades of 

Feeder Cattle 

Effective date October 1, 2000 
United States Standards for Grades of Feeder Cattle 

The following is a reprint of the Official United States Standards for the Grades of Feeder Cattle 

promulgated by the Secretary of Agriculture under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 ( 60 Stat. 

1087~ 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627) as amended and related authority in the annual appropriation acts for the 

Department of Agriculture. The standards are reprinted with amendments effective October 1, 2000. 

§53.202 Classes of slaughter and feeder cattle. 

The classes of slaughter and feeder cattle are steers, bullocks, bulls, heifers, and cows. Definitions 

of the respective classes are as follows: 

(a) Steer. A steer is a male bovine castrated when young and which has not begun to develop the 

secondary physical characteristics of a bull. 

(b) Bullock. A bullock is a young (under approximately 24 months of age) male bovine (castrated 

or uncastrated) that has developed or begun to develop the secondary physical characteristics of a 

bull. 

(c) Bull. A bull is a mature (approximately 24 months of age or older) uncastrated, male bovine. 

However, for the purpose of these standards, any mature, castrated, male bovine which has 

developed or begun to develop the secondary physical characteristics of an uncastrated male also will 

be considered a bull. 

(d) Cow. A cow is a female bovine that has developed through reproduction or with age, the 

relatively prominent hips, large middle, and other physical characteristics typical of mature females. 

(e) Heifer. A heifer is an immature female bovine that has not developed the physical 

characteristics typical of cows. 

§53.208 Feeder cattle grades. 

(a) Grade Factors. (1) These standards apply only to cattle that have not reached the age of36 

months, except these grades may be used to describe stock cows for market reporting purposes. 

(2) The grade of feeder cattle is determined by evaluating three general value-determining 

characteristics -- frame size, thickness, and thriftiness. 

(3) Frame size refers to the animal's skeletal size -- its height and body length -- in relation to its 

age. Thus, frame size evaluations are directly related to differences in mature size. At the same age, 

large frame cattle will be taller at the withers and the hips and longer bodied than small frame cattle. 

(4) Thickness in feeder cattle refers to the development of the muscle system in relation to skeletal 

size. In feeder cattle of the same age and frame size variations in thickness are due to differences in 

bone structure, muscling, and degree of fatness. For purposes of these standards, thickness is 

evaluated, assuming a constant degree of fatness -- slightly thin. Thicker feeder cattle will have a 

higher ratio of muscle to bone when fed to the same degree of fatness and will have a higher yield 

grade. 

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(5) Thriftiness refers to the apparent health of an animal and to its ability to grow and fatten 

normally. In these standards unthrifty animals are those which are not expected to perform nonnally 

in their present state. This may be due to such factors as disease, parasitism, severe emaciation, or 

any condition that must be corrected before they could be expected to perform normally. Unthrifty 

feeder cattle may have any combination of thickness and frame size. 

(b) Grades. (1) The grades of feeder cattle that have been determined to be thrifty include 

three separate groupings for different frame sizes -- Large Frame, Medium Frame, and Small 

Frame and four separate groups for thickness-- No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4. The twelve 

resultant grades are as follows: Large Frame, No. 1; Large Frame, No.2; Large Frame, No. 3; 

Large Frame, No. 4; Medium Frame, No. 1; Medium Frame, No. 2; Medium Frame, No. 3; 

Medium Frame, No. 4; Small Frame, No. 1; Small Frame, No. 2; Small Frame, No. 3; Small 

Frame, No. 4. 

(2) The U.S. Inferior grade shall apply to all feeder cattle that have been determined to be 

unthrifty. Additionally, "double-muscled" (muscular hypertrophy) cattle are graded Inferior because 

they cannot be expected to deposit intramuscular fat (marbling) normally. 

§53.209 Application of standards for grades of feeder cattle. 

(a) General Principles. (1) For the grades of feeder cattle, separate evaluations are made for 

thriftiness, frame size, and thickness. Each of these factors are very important to feeder cattle buyers 

and individually affect how cattle will perform in the feedlot. Additionally, variations in frame size 

and thickness have separate effects on the ultimate carcasses that are produced. 

(2) Variations in frame size among feeder cattle primarily affect the composition of their gain in 

weight. The gain in weight of a large framed feeder animal of a given degree of thickness normally 

will consist of more muscle and bone -- but less fat -- than a smaller framed animal. Indirectly, 

therefore, at a given weight and thickness, large framed animals will have a lesser degree of fatness 

than smaller framed animals and will also have carcasses with higher yield grades - but lower quality 

grades. This means that if animals are fed to produce the same quality grades - Choice, for example 

-- large framed cattle of a given thickness must be fed to heavier weights than cattle of the same 

thickness but which are smaller framed. In each of the frame size specifications, guidelines are given 

relative to the live weights at which steers and heifers may each be expected to produce carcasses 

with the degree of finish normally associated with the Choice grade (approximately 0.50 inch). 

(3) Variations in thickness are reflected in differences in ribeye area and, therefore, relate primarily 

to the ultimate yield grade of the carcass that a feeder animal will produce. When marketed at a given 

weight, a thick animal of a given frame size will normally produce a higher yield grading carcass than 

an animal of the same frame size that is narrow throughout. This results from the fact that the thick 

animal, at a given weight, will have both a larger ribeye and a lesser degree of fatness. If cattle are 

fed to produce carcasses of the same quality grade -- Choice, for example -- thick feeders of a given 

frame size must normally be fed to slightly heavier weights than cattle of the same frame size which 

are not as thick. 

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(4) The frame size portion ofthe grade is determined by an evaluation of an animal's skeletal size 

in relation to its age. Since age is such an important factor in determining frame size, careful 

consideration must be given to its evaluation. For example, two feeder cattle from the same 

environment with the same height and body length but which differed substantially in age would 

obviously not be the same frame size. By the same token, at a given age, a taller, longer bodied 

feeder animal will be larger framed than a short bodied animal that is not as tall. As feeder cattle 

mature, their heads appear to increase in relation to the size of their body; their ears decrease in size 

in relation to the size of their heads; the muzzle becomes proportionately wider; the head becomes 

longer in relation to its width; the feet become larger in relation to the size of the bone; and the tail 

increases in length and exhibits a more prominent switch. In evaluating feeder cattle for frame size, 

it must be remembered that breeds differ in the general range of their frame size and that since these 

standards apply to all breeds, this variation in frame among breeds must be taken in account. For 

example, in these standards, the largest framed cattle in a breed of small mature size -- and the 

smallest framed cattle in a breed of large mature size -- might both be considered as Medium in frame 

size. 

( 5) The thickness portion of the grade is determined by appraising the development of the 

muscular system in relation to the development of the skeletal system. Three of the four thickness 

grades include detailed descriptions of the thickness and fullness of the feeder cattle in the various 

parts due to differences in bone structure and muscling. However, since the appearance of these parts 

may be influenced to a considerable extent by variations in fatness, the descriptions are based on 

animals that have a slightly thin covering of fat. When evaluating the thickness of animals which have 

either a greater or lesser degree of fatness than that on which the standards are based, proper 

allowances must be made for the effect of these differences on the appearance of the various parts. 

In making such allowances, it must be remembered that cattle deposit fat at a relatively faster rate 

over the loin and back and in the flank, cod or udder, twist, and brisket than they do through the rear 

quarter, forearm, and gaskin. Therefore, as cattle increase in fatness, these former parts appear 

progressively fuller, thicker, and more distended in relation to the thickness through the rear quarter 

and to the fullness of the forearm and gaskin. Since relatively little fat is deposited over these latter 

parts, their appearance is affected relatively little by variations in fatness. In evaluating the thickness 

of feeder cattle, it is important to properly evaluate the thickness in all parts of the animal. However, 

since variations in fatness make it especially difficult to precisely evaluate the thickness and fullness 

of muscling in the loin and back, major emphasis should be placed on the development of muscling 

in the rear quarter, forearm, and gaskin as an indicator of overall thickness. Unless proper allowance 

is made for variations in fatness, animals carrying considerable finish may appear to have greater 

thickness throughout than actually is the case, whereas those which are in very thin condition may 

be inherently thicker than their appearance might indicate. 

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§53.210 Specifications for official United States standards for grades of thrifty feeder cattle 

(frame size). 

(a) lArge Frame (L). Feeder cattle which possess typical minimum qualifications for this grade 

are thrifty, have large frames, and are tall and long bodied for their age. Steers and heifers 

would not be expected to produce U.S. Choice carcasses (about 0.50 inch fat at twelfth 

rib) until their live weights exceed 1250 pounds and 1150 pounds, respectively. 

(b) Medium Frame (M). Feeder cattle which possess typical minimum qualifications for this grade 

are thrifty, have slightly large frames, and are slightly tall and slightly long bodied for their 

age. Steers and heifers would be expected to produce U.S. Choice carcasses (about 0.50 inch 

fat at twelfth rib) at live weights of 1100 to 1250 pounds and 1000 to 1150 pounds, 

respectively. 

(c) Small Frame (S). Feeder cattle included in this grade are thrifty, have small frames, and are 

shorter bodied and not as tall as specified as the minimum for the Medium Frame grade. 

Steers and heifers would be expected to produce U.S. Choice carcasses (about 0.50 inch fat 

at twelfth rib) at live weights ofless than 1100 pounds and 1000 pounds, respectively. 

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§53.211 Specifications for official U.S. standards for grades of thrifty feeder cattle (thickness). 

(a) No. 1. Feeder cattle which possess minimum qualifications for this 

grade usually display predominate beef breeding. They must be 

thrifty and moderately thick throughout. They are moderately thick 

and full in the forearm and gaskin, showing a rounded appearance 

through the back and loin with moderate width between the legs, 

both front and rear. Cattle show this thickness with a slightly thin 

covering of fat; however, cattle eligible for this grade may carry 

varying degrees of fat. 

(b) No. 2. Feeder cattle which possess minimum qualifications for this 

grade usually show a high proportion of beef breeding and slight 

dairy breeding may be detected. They must be thrifty and tend to be 

slightly thick throughout. They tend to be slightly thick and full in 

the forearm and gaskin, showing a rounded appearance through the 

back and loin with slight width between the legs, both front and rear. 

Cattle show this thickness with a slightly thin covering of fat; 

however, cattle eligible for this grade may carry varying degrees of 

fat. 

(c) No. 3. Feeder cattle which possess minimum qualifications for this 

grade are thrifty and thin through the forequarter and the middle part 

of the rounds. The forearm and gaskin are thin and the back and loin 

have a sunken appearance. The legs are set close together, both 

front and rear. Cattle show this narrowness with a slightly thin 

covering of fat; however, cattle eligible for this grade may carry 

varying degrees of fat. 

(d) No. 4. Feeder cattle included in this grade are thrifty animals which 

have less thickness than the minimum requirements specified for the 

No.3 grade. 

§53.212 Specifications for official U.S. standards for the grade of unthrifty feeder cattle. 

(a) Inferior. This grade includes those feeder cattle which are not expected to perform normally 

in their present state and those that are "double-muscled." Cattle in this grade may have any 

combination of thickness and frame size. 

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