APPROVED 

January 2005 

USDA, AMS, LS, STDZ

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Agricultural Marketing Service 

Livestock and Seed Program 

Washington, D.C. 20250 

MARCHO FARMS PREMIUM VEAL SPECIFICATION 

JANUARY 2005 

SCOPE 

This specification is for Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) certification of products 

marketed by Marcho Farms Premium Veal, which is also a USDA Process Verified 

Program. 

APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS 

1. American Meat Science Association. Meat Evaluation Handbook. 2001. USA. 

Veal Grading and Evaluation, page 76. 

2. National Pork Producers Council. Pork Quality Standards. 1999. Color Standards. 

3. United States Standards for Grades of Veal and Calf Carcasses, October 1980 

4. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), AMS, Livestock and Seed (LS) 

Program, Meat Grading and Certification (MGC) Branch Instructions 

PROGRAM SPECIFICATIONS 

An AMS, MGC Branch representative will certify the following set of requirements: 

1. GRADE 

All carcasses must be classed as veal and graded either U.S. Prime or U.S. 

Choice in accordance with the Official United States Standards for Grades of Veal 

and Calf Carcasses, October 6, 1980, by an AMS, MGC Branch representative. 

2. OTHER REQUIREMENTS 

A. Ribeye Presentation – Carcasses presented for certification must be 

presented for evaluation by the exposure of the longissimus dorsi muscle at the 

11th and 12th thoracic interface. This exposure shall be done by a plant 

representative at least 10 minutes prior to official evaluations conducted by the 

AMS agent. The resulting exposed longissimus dorsi muscle shall be 

perpendicular to the outside skin surface of the carcass at an angle toward the 

hindquarter which is slightly greater (more nearly horizontal) than the angle 

made by the 13th rib with the vertebral column. 

B. Ribeye Size – Veal ribeye size between 7.0 – 8.0 square inches. 
APPROVED 

January 2005 

USDA, AMS, LS, STDZ

C. Lean Color – Veal color of light grayish pink (Veal 1) per official United States 

Standards for Grades of Veal and Calf Carcasses 

Cross references: 

Color 

Score Color Description Reference 

1.0 light pink American Meat Science Association. Meat Evaluation 

Handbook.

1 pale pinkish gray to 

white National Pork Producers Council. Pork Quality Standards.

2 grayish pink National Pork Producers Council. Pork Quality Standards.

D. Official Certification – Carcasses that have met all the program requirements 

will be eligible for official certification by the AMS agent. 

AUTHORITY 

This service is provided by the USDA, AMS, LS Program, under the authority of the 

Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended; the Code of Federal Regulations 

(CFR) 7, Part 54. 

MARCHO FARMS PREMIUM VEAL RESPONSIBILITIES 

The costs of all grading and certification services performed by the AMS agent involving 

examinations, supervision, official documentation, and related services shall be the 

responsibility of the person, group, or plant requesting the service. Marcho Farms 

Premium Veal representatives must have any program changes approved by AMS prior 

to implementation. 

LABELING 

Labeling of Marcho Farms Premium Veal products shall be in compliance with Food 

Safety and Inspection Service regulations and LS Program’s Beef Carcass Certification 

Program Policy – SP2. This product will be labeled as Sysco Brand Butcher’s Block 

Reserve Veal.