Beef Grades

Colin · Post by **Colin** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 9:05 pm

Had a couple of steers back from the abattoir and the report said the grade is R 4L. I can't find much information to explain this grading system. Anybody point me in the right direction ?

Colin

domsmith · Post by **domsmith** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 9:23 pm

qms here in scotland and eblex in england wales. look for europe grading system.
they cant be dexters at r4l that is pretty much the commercial perfect score. e would be belgian blue p is dairy. it follows the spelling of europ, see!! r would be limo or charley crosses.
r is the conformation dexters would be p or o i think. well mine are o normally
4 is the fat.4 is fatter i think.

some one else might know more

dom

Pennielea · Post by **Pennielea** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 9:42 pm

Colin
You should be delighted to get R4L that is about as good as it gets if they were pure Dexter. We aim to produce to R3 for our scheme over here and get it fairly regularly

Ian

Colin · Post by **Colin** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 10:54 pm

Yes they were both pure grass fed dexters. Is there anywhere I can read up on this system ?

Colin

Pennielea · Post by **Pennielea** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 12:42 am

Colin
Our local website is www.lmcni.com but as it is a european scheme this should apply in all countries

Ian

Pennielea · Post by **Pennielea** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 12:49 am

Sorry Colin
I am not very good at this
Then followw Industry Information...Industry Development... Classificatiobn
Ian

SteveM · Post by **SteveM** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 6:50 am

www.lmcni.com/industry/development/Clas ... ebsite.pdf
takes you straight to the document

Broomcroft · Post by **Broomcroft** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 9:21 am

I have heard that the grading systems are to change to be more in line with American and Australian systems. Marbling will be scored as an indication of eating quality. Maybe that's why the best Angus steaks I've ever had by miles was in America?

Edited By Broomcroft on 1253175705

carole · Post by **carole** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 12:24 pm

Hi Colin
As Ian said you should be very pleased with a 4RL our first got that grading, unfortunately our next one brought us down to earth with a P+4L (our butcher was fine about it as that is what they expect from a Dexter) Anyway EBLEX produce some very good manuals and provide free training. I attended a half day course on grading cattle where we visited a local abbatoir and graded the animals on the hoof and then saw what score they achieved at the end of the day.
http://www.eblex.org.uk/beefbrp/publications/manuals/
You need to register to view the manuals

Colin · Post by **Colin** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 4:17 pm

Many thanks for this, this is just what I was looking for.

One of the steers went to the local butcher. He's just phoned me to say a lady, who bought some sirloin steaks yesterday, popped in today and told him these were marvellous, the best steaks she has ever tasted.

Colin

Colin · Post by **Colin** » Fri Jun 04, 2010 5:20 pm

Had an 18 month old steer carcase graded as O+3 in February, which I was pleased with. He had to go, I couldn't keep him longer. Cold weight 141 kg.

Just had a 29 month old steer done and he's R4H. Cold weight 210 kg. Not seen the meat yet, it arrives next week.

Both grass fed, pure dexters.

Regards,

Colin

Broomcroft · Post by **Broomcroft** » Fri Jun 04, 2010 6:00 pm

I've done 2 steers this week, one 22 months old graded O+3, the other, 26 months old graded O+4L. Neither were great steers but both OK. I'd like to have sent them both a couple of months later but needed the beef. Both about 200kg deadweight.

Also did two heifers last week both about 24 months, they graded O+4L as well. Again they could have done with a couple more months on fresh grass. Also a bull who came out 261 kg deadweight and graded O+2. He went for pies.

Colin, with your two steers, was the difference in weight just the age and the one had grown more, or were they different sized animals from the outset?

Edited By Broomcroft on 1275670868

AlisonKirk · Post by **AlisonKirk** » Fri Jun 04, 2010 6:19 pm

Clive

These steers - are they pedigree Dexter or Dexter X Angus?

Regards

Alison Kirk
Boram Dexters

Broomcroft · Post by **Broomcroft** » Fri Jun 04, 2010 7:47 pm

They are Dexters Alison. The oldest cross is just 6 months at the mo. The crosses will all grade much higher and have more muscle tone right from birth, but they won't have the Dexter flavour. Personally, I don't think grading in the UK has anything at all to do with flavour and is best ignored. As I've said before, if you graded a Wagyu it would probably be rubbish!!!! I think I'm correct in saying that in the US and in Australia, a Dexter cross would grade high. UK grading is about looking at meat not tasting it. Tell me I'm wrong but that's how it appears and why I hear the supermarkets are going to want a change.

Edited By Broomcroft on 1275677630

Denise · Post by **Denise** » Fri Jun 04, 2010 11:45 pm

Hi Clive,
Our Dexters in hoof and hook competitions in Oz - always come dead last in the hoof part, and up in the first 5 in the hook competition - in the lightweight .

Our beef classification is driven by the large supermarkets, hence we do so badly in hoof sections as the "judges" are usually abbatoir buyers - and they always get the biggest, heaviest up - but the carcase quality isnt as good as the Dexter.