New cameras were installed at nine packing plants over the
summer. Those plants account for half of all U.S. beef slaughter.
As the percentages skewed, the United States Department of
Agriculture stepped in and made adjustments in late October.
Now the percentage of Choice and Select grades has returned
to 2016 results, but that might be an over-correction because the five-year
trend has been towards slightly more Choice and slightly fewer Selects as
feedlots adjust management and genetic gains continue.
The USDA acknowledges that the new cameras were not
performing correctly, but does not say the percentage of carcasses grading
Choice was not accurate.
The issue “caused a bit of a ruckus because people didn’t
know what was going on,” said Colin Woodall, vice-president of government
affairs at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.
During the period when the new cameras were potentially
flawed, the percentage of carcasses grading Choice increased from 72 to 74 per
cent and Selects declined by a similar degree.
The issue appears to be measurement of marbling.
Producers and packers agree, however, that camera grading
appears to be more reliable than inspector grading.
