Agricultural Quality Assessment Division QAD 513 Procedure

Marketing 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Stop 0258 Effective July 1, 2024

Service Washington, DC 20250 Page 1 of 3

DATA REQUIREMENTS: 

INSTRUMENT GRADING SYSTEMS FOR BEEF CARCASSES

1. PURPOSE AND SCOPE

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Livestock 

and Poultry (L&P) Program operates a voluntary program to predict beef carcass quality and yield 

factors made by approved instrument systems, often referred to as instrument (or camera) grading.

Under the program, a customer may use instruments to augment the official USDA beef carcass 

grading in its establishment, provided the customer adheres to all applicable QAD Procedures.

A key feature of the voluntary instrument grading program is that the USDA grader makes the 

ultimate determination of the official USDA grade. In cases in which the USDA grader’s grade 

determination differs from that of the instrument, the USDA grader may override the instrument 

grade as outlined in QAD 515 Procedures. For example, if the instrument grade for an individual 

carcass is Prime but the USDA grader determines the grade of the carcass is Choice, the official 

USDA grade for the carcass is Choice. 

To continuously improve the voluntary instrument grading program, including a better 

understanding of situations that cause an override as described above, customers are required to 

provide AMS with additional camera-generated data as described in this procedure. This will allow 

AMS and grading customers to fully maximize the benefits of instrument-assisted grading. 

Provisions of this procedure apply to all L&P customers who participate in the voluntary 

instrument-assisted grading program for beef.

2. STATEMENT OF NEED AND BENEFITS

A robust and comprehensive data acquisition and analysis program is necessary to enhance 

oversight of instrument grading. Historically, L&P analyzed aggregate data to identify anomalies,

outliers, and related issues; however, aggregate data are not detailed enough to allow L&P to 

pinpoint potential root causes, thereby limiting effectiveness in resolving problems.

Beginning July 1, 2024, detailed data for every individual carcass graded by an instrument will be 

captured by the customer and transmitted to L&P. For facilities engaging in the instrument-assisted 

program, this will negate the need to provide aggregate information. Individual carcass data will 

include information such as but not limited to marbling score, camera number, operator number, 

grader number, and carcass maturity. In addition, when a camera override occurs additional data 

will be required including but not limited to the type of override, degree of difference between the 

camera and USDA grader designation, and images of the ribeye taken by the camera. Data format 

and structure should adhere to requirements in section 4.1.2 according to this data dictionary and 

data table example.
Agricultural Quality Assessment Division QAD 513 Procedure

Marketing 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Stop 0258 Effective July 1, 2024

Service Washington, DC 20250 Page 2 of 3

3. REFERENCES

QAD 500 Procedure: Beef, Bullock, and Bull Grading Methods and Procedures

QAD 511 Procedure: Instrument Approval Process, Instrument Grading Systems for Beef Carcasses

QAD-512 Procedure: Instrument Installation Process, Instrument Grading Systems for Beef 

Carcasses

QAD 515 Procedure: Beef Carcass Instrument Grading Procedures

United States Standards for Grades of Carcass Beef

4. RESPONSIBILITIES

4.1 Customer Responsibility

4.1.1 Instrument hardware and/or software will be used to capture override data and will be preapproved by L&P.

4.1.2 Data will be provided by the customer to L&P in the format and structure described in this 

data dictionary; an example of a data table meeting these requirements is located here. Data 

will be provided for each carcass graded with use of an instrument and additional 

information will be provided when an instrument override occurs. Additional override 

information will include, but is not limited to type of override, degree of difference between 

the instrument and official grader grade determination, and images of the ribeye.

4.1.3 The customer will provide data each day instrument grading occurs. Data will be submitted 

by 10:00 a.m. Central Standard Time (CST) the following business day after grading has 

occurred. Data transmission will occur through submission of data files to a secure 

FedRAMP compliant reporting system established by L&P.

4.1.4 To ensure secure transmission of untampered data, the customer will purchase a public key 

infrastructure (PKI) certificate annually from Sectigo.com.

4.2 L&P Responsibility

4.2.1 L&P will provide the customer access to a Java client, supported by all current Windows 

platforms, to allow data transmission.

4.2.2 L&P will provide the customer a secure account through which to submit data. 

4.2.3 L&P will ensure a PKI client is setup correctly for the customer.

4.2.4 L&P will notify the customer daily by email when files have been received and processed.

(The customer may opt out of this notification.)

4.2.5 L&P will maintain, use, and dispose of records according to the USDA’s Departmental 

Regulation (DR) 3080-001.

4.2.6 L&P will monitor instrument override data and contact the customer promptly when 

abnormalities or other concerns are identified.
Agricultural Quality Assessment Division QAD 513 Procedure

Marketing 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Stop 0258 Effective July 1, 2024

Service Washington, DC 20250 Page 3 of 3

5. Subject to Change

This procedure is subject to revision by the L&P Program at any time.

____________________________

Mark Perigen, Director

Quality Assessment Division

Livestock and Poultry Program

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