B-maturity: Factors Affecting Physiological Maturity

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved a change in its grading system in 1996 that became effective January 31, 1997. All carcasses with overall maturity scores of B\u27\u27 (from cattle approximately 30 to 42 months of age at slaughter) and with Slight or Small degrees of marbling are excluded from the U.S. Choice and U.S. Select quality grades. In fact these carcasses will only be eligible for the U.S. Choice grade if they possess a minimum of Modest amount of marbling (Figure 1)