Some Issues Related to Beef Traceability: Transforming Cattle into Beef in the U'S'

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Some Issues Related to Beef Traceability
Transforming Cattle into Beef in the U.S.

• Prepared by
• James G. Robb and Erica L. Rosa
• Livestock Marketing Information Center
• Lakewood, Colorado
• Email robb_at_lmic.info rosa_at_lmic.info

Western Extension Marketing Committee
Western Center for Risk Management Education
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The Industry Has Changed

• Not A Carcass based Industry
• U.S. Packing Plants are
• High capacity/volume
• Transport products long distances
• Relatively concentrated (firms and geography)
• Produces high quality safe products

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The Production Process

• Disassembly Process
• Four Major Stages of
• Slaughter or harvest
• Cooler
• Fabrication
• Holding cooler and shipping

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Stage 1
 
Packer Operations
Slaughter or Harvest
Animal processed into carcass hides removed,
etc.
Feedlot
Cattle are sorted according to various
specifications i.e. breed, degree of finish, live
weight
 
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Stage 2
Carcasses are sorted and assigned into batches
Cooler
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Stage 3
Batches are broken down into primals, sub-primals
and cuts products are boxed
Fabrication Floor
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Stage 4
Boxes are sorted then stored or transported
(usually by refrigerated packer-owned truck)
Holding Cooler And Shipping
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Traceability Challenge

• NAIS is live animal traceback
• Linear Traceability
• Understanding the Fabrication State
• Becomes a function of time or batch
• Animal ID disconnection
• Forward and Backward Traceability Possible

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Stage 3
Batches are broken down into primals, sub-primals
and cuts products are boxed
Fabrication Floor
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Wholesale Beef Values

• What is the Cutout?
• Wholesale Values Quality Grade and Branding
• Comparison of Values
• Loin
• Chuck

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Selected Wholesale Beef Values
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Selected Wholesale Beef Values - Loin
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Selected Wholesale Beef Values - Chuck
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Summary

• Not A Carcass based Industry
• Nonlinear Flow at Fabrication
• Existence of Economic Incentives will be Key to
  Implementing Farm-to-Fork Traceability