Restocked Grids Help Producers and Educators Measure Carcass Traits in Beef and Pork

Mar 16, 2026

By Terry Houser and Alaina Friesleben

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach offers two simple tools that help producers, educators and meat processors measure carcass traits in beef and pork. The products have recently been restocked and are now available on the ISU Extension Store.

The Beef Ribeye Grid and Pork Loin Eye Grid are used to estimate the size of ribeye and loin eye muscles on harvested animals. These measurements are commonly used in livestock judging contests, youth fair carcass evaluations and by producers who want carcass data to inform breeding decisions.

To use the grids, the transparent sheet is placed over the cut surface of the muscle and the dots within the ribeye or loin eye are counted. The total is then converted into square inches of muscle area.

Source : iastate.edu

Video: Genomic Technologies and Public Trust - Dr. Ellen Goddard

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Ellen Goddard, Professor Emerita at the University of Alberta, discusses public acceptance of genomic technologies in pork production. She explains why disease resistance is viewed positively, how labeling affects trust, why farmers remain highly credible messengers, and how communication can shape consumer confidence around gene editing. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Not providing information is a choice that can affect long-term public trust."

Meet the guest: Dr. Ellen Goddard / ellen-goddard-11541138 is Professor Emerita at the University of Alberta and an agricultural economist. Her work focuses on consumer behavior, trust, livestock sectors, and public attitudes toward food technologies. She also specializes in economic modeling for pork, beef, and dairy systems. Learn more from Dr. Ellen Goddard on the Swine in Canada Podcast Show, available on all major platforms.