The Different Classes of Slaughter Cows

Jul 19, 2024

By Dr. Andrew Griffith

Following last week’s discussion on slaughter cow prices, a question was asked concerning the different classes of slaughter cows. Slaughter cow grades are based on fat cover. A breaking utility cow is in a body condition score (BCS) of 7-9 which means she is fat/obese. A boning utility cow is in a BCS of 4-6. Most producers will want their breeding herd in a 5-6 BCS. Lean/light are in a BCS of 1-3, which means they are extremely thin.

This is a very generalized explanation of slaughter cow grades, and there are more specifics that determine the final price. For instance, if an animal is expected to produce more lean beef than another animal relative to their total weight then it will receive a higher price. Some things to look for include looking at the fat over the ribs, hooks and pins. If the ribs are well covered then it is good to look at the fat cover on the hooks and pins to get an idea of the quality of animal.

In today’s market, there is a strong demand for lean grinding beef, which is what is supporting slaughter cow prices.

Source : osu.edu

Video: 2026 T.K. Cheung Lecture in Animal Science - Dan Weary

T.K. Cheung Lecture in Animal Science: "Using science to assess and improve the welfare of dairy cattle"

Dan Weary is a Professor at the University of British Columbia. Dan did his BSc and MSc at McGill and Doctorate at Oxford before co-founding UBC’s Animal Welfare Program where he now co-directs this active research group. His research focuses on understanding the perspectives of animals and applying these insights to develop methods of assessing animal welfare and improving the lives of animals. His work has helped drive changes in practices (including the adoption of higher milk rations for calves and pain management for disbudding) and housing methods (including the adoption of social housing for pre-weaned calves). He also studies cow comfort and lameness, social interactions among cows, and interactions between cows, human handlers and technologies like automated millking systems that are increasingly used on farms. His presentation will outline key questions in cattle welfare, highlight recent UBC research addressing them, and showcase innovative methods for improving the lives of cattle and their caretakers.