Benchmarking Venezuelan Quality Grades for Grass-Fed Cattle Carcasses

Abstract

The current Venezuelan beef carcass classification and grading system provide a mean for sorting carcasses into 5 quality grades, designated as AA, A, B, C, and D, in a descending order of expected eating quality. Brahman cull heifers and cows (n = 21 and 18, respectively) and entire males (bulls; n = 17) were finished on native savannah grass, slaughtered and graded by the official standards to compare carcass traits, cutability, cookery traits, and palatability characteristics between graded (A, B, or C) female classes and bulls. The B-graded bulls dressed heavier carcasses, with a more convex leg muscle profile and larger ribeye area (P < 0.05) followed by C-graded cows in carcass weight and ribeye area (P < 0.05). Marbling score described as “Slight” did not differ among carcass grades (P > 0.05). The B-graded bulls had the highest proportion of total bone-in and boneless cuts (P < 0.05); however, carcasses from females surpassed (P < 0.05) or did not differ (P > 0.05) from bull carcasses in fabrication yield values for 16 of 18 individual cuts. Cooking loss (%) did not vary with carcass grades (P > 0.05). Cooked meats from A/B-graded heifers and C-graded cows had lower shear force values, were rated as more tender and flavorful (P < 0.05), and exhibited a higher proportion of tender steaks (with shear force < 4.09 kg) than B-graded bull counterparts (P < 0.05). Advantageous palatability traits of C-graded cows and A/B-graded heifers fattened on pasture can be used in developing and marketing new value-added products.