If growth potential for an individual calf or group of calves is expected to be low, buyers will discriminate. Feeder cattle grades can also convey whether cattle are outside ideal parameters. Feeder calf grading improves the industry’s ability to better group cattle into more uniform groups for more efficient feeding and management. Although these calves are the same age, the number of days on feed in a feedlot may range by as much as 100 days or more to achieve a similar carcass endpoint. The three calves in Figure 1 were born on the same day. This bulletin will address thriftiness, frame, muscling, flesh, and sex classification as it relates to grading feeder cattle. Carcass value is dependent upon the combination of quality grade and yield grade. In other words, young, lightweight feeder cattle can be assigned grades and scores to estimate future carcass value. However, frame and muscling, in particular, are predictive variables as to how the calf will perform and grade once harvested at the packing plant. Many of the factors listed are obvious at first glance. Department of Agriculture Feeder Calf Grading standards can apply to cattle under 36 months of age. Being informed on feeder cattle grading standards will help the beef cattle producer understand more about feeder calf pricing. Beef producers may be skeptical as to why their cattle or individual calves have sold for less money than others. The grading system is often not explained or conveyed clearly. The terminology of the feeder cattle market can be vague and challenging to understand for both the novice and experienced cattlemen. Feeder calf grades are national standards that offer more consistent communication between the producer and other segments of the beef industry, such as stocker operations and feedlots.
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