Veal & Calf Carcass Grades and Standards

Grades of Veal Carcass

  1. Prime

a. Veal carcasses with minimum Prime grade conformation tend to be moderately wide and thick in relation to their length. They are slightly thick-fleshed and have a slightly plump appearance. Legs are slightly thick and bulging. Loins and backs tend to be moderately full and plump. Shoulders and breasts tend to be moderately thick.

b. Figure 1 (pdf) in 54.115 depicts the degree of feathering and flank fat streakings associated with minimum Prime quality for different colors of lean. The lean flesh is slightly firm, regardless of its color.

c. A development of quality superior to that specified as minimum for the Prime grade may compensate, without limit, for a development of conformation inferior to that specified as minimum for Prime at an equal rate as indicated in the following example. A carcass which has midpoint Prime quality may have conformation equal to the midpoint of the Choice grade and remain eligible for Prime. However, regardless of the extent to which the conformation of a carcass exceeds the minimum of the Prime grade, a carcass must have minimum Prime quality to be eligible for Prime.

  1. Choice

a. Veal carcasses with minimum Choice grade conformation tend to be slightly wide and thick in relation to their length. They tend to be slightly thin-fleshed and have little or no evidence of plumpness. Loins, backs, and legs are slightly thin and nearly flat. Shoulders and breasts tend to be slightly thin.

b. Figure 1 (pdf) in 54.115 depicts the degree of feathering and flank fat streakings associated with minimum Choice quality for different colors of lean. The lean flesh is slightly soft regardless of its color.

c. A development of quality superior to that specified as minimum for the Choice grade may compensate, without limit, for a development of conformation inferior to that specified as minimum for Choice at an equal rate as indicated in the following example: A carcass which has midpoint Choice quality may have conformation equal to the midpoint of the Good grade and remain eligible for Choice. However, regardless of the extent to which the conformation of a carcass exceeds the minimum of the Choice grade, a carcass must have minimum Choice quality to be eligible for Choice.

  1. Good.

a. Veal carcasses with minimum Good grade conformation are rangy, angular, and narrow in relation to their length. They are thinly fleshed. Legs are thin and tapering and slightly concave. Loins and back are depressed. Shoulders and breasts are thin.

b. Figure 1 (pdf) in 54.115 depicts the degree of feathering and flank fat streakings associated with minimum Good quality for different colors of lean. The lean flesh is moderately soft regardless of its color.

c. A development of quality superior to that specified as minimum for the Good grade may compensate, without limit, for a development of conformation inferior to that specified as minimum for Good at an equal rate as indicated in the following example: A carcass which has midpoint Good grade quality may have conformation equivalent to the midpoint of the Standard grade and remain eligible for Good. Also, a carcass which has conformation at least one-third grade superior to that specified as minimum for the Good grade may qualify for Good with a development of quality equivalent to the lower limit of the upper third of the Standard grade. Compensation of superior conformation for inferior quality is limited to one-third grade of deficient quality.

  1. Standard

a. Veal carcasses with minimum Standard grade conformation are very rangy and angular and very narrow in relation to their length. They are very thinly fleshed. Legs are very thin and moderately concave. Loins and backs are very depressed. Shoulders and breasts are very thin.

b. Figure 1 (pdf) in 54.115 depicts the degree of feathering and flank fat streakings associated with minimum Standard quality for different colors of lean. The lean flesh is soft regardless of its color.

c. A development of quality superior to that specified as minimum for the Standard grade may compensate, without limit, for a development of conformation inferior to that specified as minimum for Standard at an equal rate as indicated in the following example: A carcass which has midpoint Standard quality may have conformation equal to the midpoint of the Utility grade and remain eligibility for Standard. Also, a carcass which has conformation at least one-third grade superior to that specified as minimum for the Standard grade may qualify for Standard with a development of quality equal to the minimum of the upper third of the Utility grade Compensation of superior conformation for inferior quality is limited to one-third grade of deficient quality.

  1. Utility. The Utility grade includes those veal carcasses whose characteristics are inferior to those specified as minimum for the Standard grade.

Grades of Calf Carcass

  1. Prime

a. Calf carcasses with minimum Prime grade conformation tend to be moderately wide and thick in relation to their length. They are moderately thick-fleshed and have a moderately plump appearance. Legs tend to be moderately thick and bulging. Loins and backs tend to be moderately full and plump. Shoulders and breasts tend to be moderately thick. 

b. Figure 1 (pdf) in 54.115 depicts the degree of feathering and flank fat streakings associated with minimum Prime quality. The degree of marbling required for minimum Prime quality increases from minimum practically devoid for the very youngest carcasses classified as calf to a maximum moderate amount for carcasses with maturity at the juncture of the calf and beef classes. The lean flesh is moderately firm regardless of maturity.

c. A development of quality superior to that specified as minimum for the Prime grade may compensate, without limit, for a development of conformation inferior to that specified as minimum for Prime at an equal rate as indicated in the following example: A carcass which has midpoint Prime quality may have conformation equal to the midpoint of the Choice grade and remain eligible for Prime. However, regardless of the extent to which the conformation of a carcass exceeds the minimum of the Prime grade, a carcass must have minimum Prime quality to be eligible for Prime.

  1. Choice

a. Calf carcasses with minimum Choice grade conformation tend to be slightly wide and thick in relation to their length. They tend to be slightly thick-fleshed and have a slightly plump appearance. Legs are slightly thick but have little evidence of plumpness. Loins and backs are very slightly full and plump. Shoulders and breasts are slightly thick.

b. Figure 1 (pdf) in 54.115 depicts the degree of feathering and flank fat streakings associated with minimum Choice quality. The degree of marbling required for minimum Choice quality increases from minimum practically devoid for carcasses at midpoint calf maturity to a maximum slight amount for carcasses with maturity at the juncture of the calf and beef classes. Marbling is not required for Choice quality in carcasses which are less than midpoint calf in maturity. The lean flesh is slightly firm regardless of maturity.

c. A development of quality superior to that specified as minimum for the Choice grade may compensate, without limit, for a development of conformation inferior to that specified as minimum for Choice at an equal rate as indicated in the following example: A carcass which has midpoint Choice quality may have conformation equal to the midpoint of the Good grade and remain eligible for Choice. However, regardless of the extent to which the conformation of a carcass exceeds the minimum of the Choice grade, a carcass must have minimum Choice quality to be eligible for Choice.

  1. Good

a. Calf carcasses with minimum Good grade conformation tend to be rangy, angular, and narrow in relation to their length. They tend to be thinly fleshed. Legs are thin and tapering and very slightly concave. Loins and backs are slightly shallow and depressed. Shoulders and breasts are thin. 

b. Figure 1 (pdf) in 54.115 depicts the degree of feathering and flank fat streakings associated with minimum Good quality. The minimum degree of marbling required for Good quality decreases from typical traces for carcasses with maturity at the juncture of the calf and beef classes to minimum practically devoid for carcasses midway in maturity within the more mature half of the range of maturity included in the calf class. In less mature carcasses, marbling is not required for Good quality. The lean flesh is moderately soft regardless of maturity. 

c. A development of quality superior to that specified as minimum for the Good grade may compensate, without limit, for a development of conformation inferior to that specified as minimum for Good at an equal rate as indicated in the following example: A carcass which has midpoint Good grade quality may have conformation equivalent to the midpoint of the Standard grade and remain eligible for Good. Also, a carcass which has conformation at least one-third grade superior to that specified as minimum for the Good grade may qualify for Good with a development of quality equivalent to the lower limit of the upper third of the Standard grade. Compensation of superior conformation for inferior quality is limited to one-third grade of deficient quality.

  1. Standard.

a. Calf carcasses with minimum Standard grade conformation are rangy, angular, and very narrow in relation to their length. They are very thinly fleshed. Legs are very shallow and depressed. Shoulders and breasts are very thin.

b. Figure 1 (pdf) in 54.115 depicts the degree of feathering and flank fat streakings associated with minimum Standard quality. The lean flesh is soft regardless of maturity.

c. A development of quality which is superior to that specified as minimum for the Standard grade may compensate, without limit, for a development of conformation inferior to that specified as minimum for Standard at an equal rate as indicated in the following example: A carcass which has midpoint Standard quality may have conformation equal to the midpoint of the Utility grade and remain eligible for Standard. Also, a carcass which has conformation at least one-third grade superior to that specified for the minimum of the Standard grade may qualify for Standard with a development of quality equal to the lower limit of the upper third of the Utility grade. Compensation of superior conformation for inferior quality is limited to one-third grade of deficient quality.

  1. Utility. The Utility grade includes those calf carcasses whose characteristics are inferior to those specified as minimum for the Standard grade.

 
Detailed standards, Inspection Instructions & Other Resources: