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The Huron Expositor, 1995-03-15, Page 51Farm Progress '96' -Papa 33 Beef grade labelling shifts focus to quality traits Major restructuring of Canadian beef grade standards took place in 1972 and 1992. The 1972 revisions focused on identifying lean content in beef carcasses and established a means of differentiating value based on lean content. This feature along with the introduction of well muscled European breeds sooting in the early 1970s led to the produc- tion of substantially leaner and better muscled beef carcasses in Canada. The 1992 Canadian beef grade changes shifted the focus to quality traits by re -introducing marbling as an evaluation criteria and es- tablished the basis for rewarding individual animal merit for both quality traits and lean content. The 1992 grade change also introduced the requirement that all beef shipments from federally registered meat establishments must identify the grade of the shipment or if it is cut from an ungraded beef carcass, that it be labelled "ungraded". A similar requirement exists for imported beef. Foreign grades of Australia, New Zealand and the United States are recognized by Agriculture Canada. This provincial regulation complements the federal beef grading regulation change in 1992. Provincial regulation is necessary because retail sale is a matter under provincial jurisdiction. The major beef quality criteria assessed in the beef grade standards are - age of animal, lean color, fat color and marbling. While marbling was not evaluated as part of beef grading prior to 1992, consumer research consistently associated eating satisfaction with marbled beef. Beef carcasses are evaluated for marbling and are graded A (for least amount of marbling), AA (for medium marbling) and AAA (for greatest amount of marbling) if age, lean color and fat color are accep- table for the top beef grades. Marbling does not significantly change the fat content of beef. When trimmed of exterior fat, Canada AAA grade beef still qualifies as lean with less than 10 per cent fat on a raw basis. The average fat content of 90 grams of cooked trimmed beef, based on Health Canada's data is 7.4 grams. A cooked, trimmed 90 gram portion of Canada AAA grade beef contains 7.8 grams of fat, a difference of only 4 calories per portion. The terminology which has been used in retail advertising flyers - "Cut from Canada A grades" - predates the 1992 beef grade chan- Did you know? Farming is the most hazardous occupation in Canada. The average death rate of all industries is 11 deaths per 100,000 workers. The farm death rate is 55 per 100,000 compared to mining's 50 per 100,000 and construction's 37 per 100,000. CHUCK RIB SHORT LOIN SIRLOIN ROUND SHORT FLANK PLATE ges. The new terminology which retailers will be required to use is "Cut from Canada A/AA/AAA" if a combination of the A grades is being sold. The vast majority of youthful cattle raised in Canada meet the criteria for Canada A or Canada HURON TIRE & AUTO -- GREAT SELECTION IN STOCK We have an exceptional inventory of new & used TRACTOR/AG. TIRES HURON TIRE & AUTO ARE DIRECT DEALERS FOR THESE AGRICULTURAL TIRE COMPANIES • FIRESTONE • TAURUS • BRIGADIER • GOODYEAR • ARMSTRONG LOW -PROF ILL AG. TIRES We now have a great inventory of USED TRACTOR TIRES 3 SETS: 18.4 x 38 Duals 1 SET : 18.4 x 34 Duals 1 SET : 18.4 x 42 Duals 3 SETS: 18.4 x R42 Duals GOOD STOCK OF 20.8 x 38 USED TRACTOR TIRES FOR DUALS HIGHWAY 4 SOUTH • CLINTON 482-3752 AA or Canada AAA (96 per cent). The distribution of production within these top three beef grades is 31 per cent - Canada A, 45 per cent - Canada AA, and 24 per cent - Canada AAA. Beef carcasses are graded by federal government graders. Grading is done only at the request of the processing plant and there is a partial cost recovery for the ser- vice. Most processing plants only apply grade stamps to carcasses which grade Canada A, Canal AA or Canada AAA. Beef grading should not be con- fused with meat hygiene inspection, While grading is optional, all beef, graded or ungraded, domestic or imported, must meet strict health inspection standards established and applied by Agriculture and Agri - food Canada or the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. The "Canada" or "Ontario Approved" inspection stamps assure consumers that the product is safe. Ontario is the second largest beef producing province in Canada (second to Alberta) accounting for approximately 25 per cent of Canadian fed cattle production. However, Ontario is the leading province in further beef processing for the food service and deli meats trade. Bec:.ise Ontario and Quebec have approximately 70 per cent of Canada's population and because very few fed cattle are produced in Quebec, significant amounts of high quality beef for the retail trade enter the Eastern Canadian market from Western Canada and the United States. Lower quality beef for grin- ding purposes and manufacturing purposes comes from domestic production (cull cows) and is sup- plemented with imported beef primarily from Ausualia and New Zealand. ea Control Quackgrass Before Planting Corn with the 3+3 Option Larry Bartram 519.425-0671 If you've got a quack - grass problem to tackle before you plant corn this spring, the first thing you'll need to know is how soon you can go in and spray with Roundup® herbicide. The label says you should apply Roundup® when your quackgrass has 3 to 4 leaves. While treatments ars typically made when there are four leaves present, research has shown that spraying at the 3 -leaf stage also provides excellent control. Applying a little earlier can save you several days and allow you to go in and plant sooner. Now, you can go in and cultivate earlier, too. You only have to wait three full days ( 72 hours) after spraying before tillage. The tillage interval is determined by how long it takes for sufficient Roundup® to translocate into the roots and rhizomes to ensure opti- mum control — not by how long it takes for the weeds to turn brown. So don't be misled by the colour of your treated quackgrass. If you've wait- ed three full days, go ahead and till — even if the quackgrass is still green! The bottom of the line: Roundup® leaves you plenty of opportunity to treat quackgrass this spring and plant your corn with time to spare. Any other questions about spring treatment of quackgrass with Roundup®? Give me a call! NOW ON LY Imrs gine the possibilities ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW LABEL DIRECTIONS FOR ROUNDUP® HERBICIDE. 'Suggested retail price based on 10 litre agricultural container. Retail price may vary. Roundup® is a registered trademark of Monsanto Company. Monsanto Canada Inc. licensee. © Monsanto Company 1995. Roundup® is manufactured in Canada. RDP-034-E3.95 r - I1