In the year 1978, the American Angus Association initiated the Certified Angus Beef program. It was instituted so that high quality Angus beef would be produced due to certain specifications.
Because in the year 1976, beef grading standards had been lowered by the USDA, the American Angus Association wanted to ensure that their consumers would only be purchasing high quality Angus beef. The Certified Angus Beef program would ensure that marbling and Prime Angus beef would be brought back to the American public.
The Certified Angus Beef Program has strict standards and only one in six Angus breed cattle qualify for the Certified Angus Beef program.
The Certified Angus Beef Program: The Process
The process of certification in the Certified Angus Beef Program consists of many stages. First, the USDA monitors employees at packaging plants to maker sure that the Angus is in fact Black Cattle. If the cattle fail to meet Black Angus standards, certification will not continue. There are then, eight steps that the certified Black Angus cattle must adhere to before they can receive the federal stamp of Certified Angus Beef.
1. A High Degree of Marbling- to qualify for the Certified Angus Beef program, cattle must have 25% marbling. Marbling is the white flecks of fat distributed throughout the meat. It creates a juicer and tendered meat.
2. Fine Marbling Texture or Medium Marbling Texture: Coarse marbling is not allowed due to the fact that it can have a negative impact on the flavor of the meat. Only fine or medium marbling is allowed in the Certified Angus Beef program.
3. Maturity: Cattle must be between 9-30 months old. Young cattle produce a better quality of meat then do older cattle. Only young cattle are accepted in the Certified Angus Beef Program.
4. Must be 3.9% Fat or Leaner
5. Must have Superior Muscle Thickness
6. They can not have the characteristic Brahman neck hump: no neck hump that exceeds 2 inches
7. No Evidence of ever having Internal Hemorrhages- This is noticed by redspots in the Ribeye.
8. May not have Dark Meat