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Trade Your Best for Exceptional
- with Certified Angus Beef® brand Prime
Bottom Line: If you are committed to the quality of commodity USDA Prime, raise the bar with Certified Angus Beef® brand Prime. Less than 1% of beef is elite enough to meet the brand’s specifications and earn its premium Prime label.
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Breakdown of USDA Prime
Dairy cattle comprise 31% of the USDA Prime box. Focusing on Angus-influenced cattle ensures superior muscling that delivers consistent
plate presentations without compromising yield.
Outliers include “B” maturity and those cattle not meeting the sizing, quality appearance and tenderness specifications.
- “B” maturity cattle are harvested at 30-42 months of age. Cuts from younger, “A” maturity cattle, have superior tenderness, color, texture
and firmness.
- Inconsistent sizing means more variation. Eliminating extremely heavy carcasses; exceptionally large and small ribeyes; and excessively fatty
product equates to thicker, more uniform cuts.
- Safeguarding against capillary ruptures, dark cutters and Brahman cattle influence means each cut is tender, flavorful and ensures a
consistent and high-quality appearance.
Certified Angus Beef® brand Prime is so exclusive
that it must pass nine more specifications than USDA Prime.
| Certified Angus Beef® brand Prime | USDA Prime |
| Only higher quality, Angus-influenced cattle are eligible | Originates from a variety of breeds, including dairy cattle |
| Only “A” maturity cattle (both skeletal and lean) are accepted, which have superior tenderness, color, texture and firmness | Includes “B” maturity cattle harvested at approximately 30-42 months of age |
Three specifications for consistency ensure thicker, more uniform steak size
- .10- to 16-square-inch ribeye area
- .Less than 1,000 pound hot carcass weight
- .Less than 1-inch fat thickness
| Accepts all ranges of ribeye and carcass weights
- No specification on ribeye area – accepts industry extremes of 7- to 20-square-inch ribeyes
- No specification on carcass weight – may include industry extremes of 1,250 pound hot carcass weight
- No specification for fat thickness
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| Finer marbling texture ensures consistent flavor and juiciness in every bite | No specification |
| Not allowing capillary ruptures or dark cutters ensures consistent flavor and appearance | No specification |
| Safeguarding against significant Brahman cattle influence ensures tenderness | No specification |
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