Unlike Irish farmers, who are paid by carcase conformation and fat cover on the EUROP grading system, all American beef farmers are paid on the amount of marbling in their meat. This takes the emphasis off cattle with extreme shape (conformation) to animals with more tender meat.

Marbling (intramuscular fat) is the intermingling or dispersion of fat within the lean. Graders evaluate the amount and distribution of marbling in the rib-eye muscle at the cut surface after the carcase has been ribbed between the 12th and 13th ribs. Degree of marbling is the primary determination of quality grade.

There are eight beef quality grades. The grades are based on two main criteria: the degree of marbling in the beef and the maturity. These are as follows:

  • 1 US Prime

    • Highest in quality and intramuscular fat, limited supply. Currently, about 2.9% of carcases grade as Prime.

  • 2 US Choice

    • High quality, widely available in foodservice industry and retail markets. Choice carcases are 53.7% of the fed cattle total. The difference between Choice and Prime is largely due to the fat content in the beef. Prime typically has a higher fat content (more and well distributed intramuscular marbling) than Choice.

  • 3 US Select (formerly Good)

    • Lowest grade commonly sold at retail. Acceptable quality but it is less juicy and tender due to its leanness.

  • 4 US Standard

    • Standard beef grades are one of the last to make it to stores. They have very little marbling and are sold as ungraded or store brand meat.

  • 5 US Commercial

    • Commercial beef grades are the last grade to make it to stores. They have very little marbling and are sold as ungraded or store brand meat.

  • 6 US Utility

    • The Utility grade is used to make cheap ground beef and processed products like hot dogs or dog food. These grades won’t appear on any labels and come from older cattle with no marbling.

  • 7 US Cutter

    • Similarly to the Utility grade, US Cutter is used to make cheap ground beef and processed products like hot dogs or dog food. These grades won’t appear on any labels and come from older cattle with no marbling.

  • 8 US Canner

    • Finally, US Canner grades are used to make cheap ground beef and processed products like hot dogs or dog food. Again, these grades won’t appear on any labels and come from older cattle with no marbling.