WINNIPEG — The Canadian Beef Grading Agency is looking for public comment by Aug. 31 on proposed changes to the yield and grade classifications for beef, veal and bison.
The agency wants a five-yield classification rather than the three yield grades now in use in Canada. This would hopefully bring Canada more in line with the United States and Mexico and might eventually lead to a North American meat standard, said Cindy Delaloye, head of the grading agency.
However, upgrades using more scientific analysis on modern carcasses is needed, she said at the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association semi annual meeting in Winnipeg Aug. 11-14.
Read Also
Canadian crop outlook has improved since January says FCC
Canadian farmers’ overall new crop outlook has improved since the beginning of the year, says Farm Credit Canada.
The U.S. system has five yield grade classes that are more than 50 years old and were based on the cutout of 160 carcasses that included dairy animals.
“Our yield grade was based in a 1992 cutout of 620 carcasses. I think our algorithm is more substantial but it is not perfect,” she said.
Scientists at Agriculture Canada are completing a project that could provide far more detail on the actual saleable red meat found in a carcass.
“This will help us develop a new algorithm for establishing a yield grade,” she said.
Canadian graders use a specially designed ruler on the rib eye surface between the 12th and 13th ribs when there is some question on the yield. Delaloye said it is more accurate than a visual appraisal, but it is not as precise as it could be.
The agency document may be found online, and if approved by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, it could become part of the regulations of the Safe Food for Canadians Act. It would not come into effect until the regulations are published in Canada Gazette II.
The document may be found at beefgradingagency.ca/news/CBGA_May_2015.pdf.
Comments may be forwarded to cbga@telus.net before Aug. 31.
Contact barbara.duckworth@producer.com
