WSU Extension Q&A: When it comes to steers, it’s all about grading quality, yield

Q. When the steers are judged at the fair, what is the judge basing the placing on?

A. Essentially what the judge is trying to do is match the attributes of each individual steer with what is considered the industry standards for beef quality and yield. The United States Department of Agriculture has specific requirements to meet for beef USDA Quality Grades and USDA Yield Grades. The USDA Quality Grade is comprised of factors that affect the palatability of the meat such as marbling and maturity of the carcass. The judge will look at and handle the live animals and estimate the amount of external fat on the carcass, which in turn provides some insight into the amount of marbling. The USDA Beef Yield Grades estimate the amount of boneless, closely trimmed retail cuts from the round, loin, rib and chuck of the carcass. The USDA Yield Grades are a numerical rating system with USDA Yield Grade 1 denoting the highest yielding carcass and USDA Yield Grade 5 denoting a lower yielding (fattier) carcass.

The judge will try to determine yield by the amount of muscle thickness and expression in the loin and round and the relative amount of external waste (fat) that is apparent by observation. In his/her evaluation, the judge will try to place animals higher in the classes that will grade USDA Choice and have a USDA Yield Grade of 1, 2 or 3. These animals will most closely meet the industry standards for beef grades.

Judging market steers is not an exact science. There are many factors that can affect both quality and yield, and it is only after processing that the actual grades will be known.

Q. How should I time my last alfalfa harvest?

A. The goal in alfalfa and other perennials is to provide carbohydrate (energy) to maintain the plant through the winter and to start regrowth next spring. To accomplish that, ideally, you should stop harvesting no later than the third week in September. Regrowth utilizes stored carbohydrate, and cutting late means frost will come before new carbohydrate will be stored, reducing vigor for next spring. Carbohydrate storage increases with maturity, which is also the reason that short harvest intervals are hard on stand longevity. You may cut alfalfa near a frost as little regrowth will occur and storage of carbohydrate is in the crown below cutting height, but to get the advantage of the hay you will need to green chop it.

Q. What? 4-H has a Theater Arts Project? I had no idea.

A. Yes. Under our Creative Arts Project area, youth can open the world of theater through a Theater Arts Project. Participate in activities in communication, improvisation, pantomime, script writing and more. If you’re interested in this kind of fun, contact the WSU Franklin County Extension Office at 509-545-3511 or franklinco@wsu.edu .

This story was originally published September 2, 2017 at 11:57 AM with the headline "WSU Extension Q&A: When it comes to steers, it’s all about grading quality, yield."