DRESSING YIELDS AND CATTLE CUTTINGS.
YIELDS OF CATTLE -- YIELD FROM TWENTY-TWO NATIVE CATTLE -- YIELD FROM
FIFTY-NINE TEXAS CATTLE -- YIELD FROM TWENTY HEAVY CATTLE -- YIELD
FROM THIRTY-FOUR CATTLE -- PERCENTAGE OF VARIOUS CUTS -- BEEF CUTS --
DIAGRAM OF CUTTING -- GRADING -- LOINS -- RIBS -- ROUNDS -- CHUCKS --
PLATES, SHANKS AND FLANKS -- BARRELED BEEF.
=Yields of Cattle.=--The following are carefully prepared calculations
made from data obtained in operation, showing yields of different
products on several different lots of cattle. These were choice
cattle in each instance and the average yield of the products is
generally larger than would be the case with the ordinary run of cattle
slaughtered. A perusal of the different tests given in the following
pages will give the reader the average yield in different lines from
the cattle handled, together with the value of the different items at
time tests were made.
The prices were in vogue at the time of the original publication and
while now obsolete are left for comparative purposes. The quantities
and percentages would remain and can be used as a basis for present
computations.
=Yield from Twenty-Two Native Cattle.=--The following tables show the
yield in beef, hides and tallow and value of offal of twenty-two native
cattle, the first in each test showing the weight and percentage of
yield of beef, hides and tallow.
The yield of sweetbreads of twenty-two cattle was twenty-two pieces,
weighing six pounds, valued at 20c per pound, total value $1.20. The
yield in tripe was twenty-two pieces, weighing 420 pounds, valued at
¹⁄₂c per pound, total value $2.10. Total value of sweetbreads and green
tripe, $3.30.
PERCENTAGE OF YIELD OF BEEF, HIDES AND TALLOW.
================+======+================+========+======
|Weight| | Weight | Per
Product | lbs. | Averages | lbs. | Cent
----------------+------+----------------+--------+------
Live weight |23,700|Average |1,077.00| ...
Dressed weight |14,239|Average | 646.00| 60.08
Shipping weight |14,162|Shrinkage | ... | 0.54
Hides weight | 1,755|Average | ... | 7.40
----------------+------+----------------+--------+------
Total fat weight| 1,391|Average per head| 63.25| 5.80
----------------+------+----------------+--------+------
TRIMMINGS FROM LOT OF TWENTY-TWO CATTLE.
==============+======+================+===+=======
Product |Pounds| Value |Total Value
--------------+------+----------------+-----------
22 tongues | 149 |$0.55 each | $12.10
22 livers | 248 | .35 each | 7.70
22 hearts | 56 | .07 each | 1.54
22 tails | 40 | .03¹⁄₂ each | .77
Cheek meat | 88 | .03 per lb.| 2.64
Head meat | 16 | .03 per lb.| .48
Fine meat | 7 | .03 per lb.| .21
Head trimmings| 11 | .03 per lb.| .33
--------------+------+----------------+-----------
Total value | ... | ... | $25.77
--------------+------+----------------+-----------
CASINGS FROM LOT OF TWENTY-TWO CATTLE.
======================+========+=================+============
|Per cent| |
Product | used | Value | Total Value
----------------------+--------+-----------------+------------
20 sets round guts | 91 |$0.14 set | $2.80
8 sets middles | 36 | .50 set | 4.00
22 pcs. bungs | 100 | .11 each | 2.42
20 pcs. bung gut skins| 91 | .01¹⁄₂ each | .25
19 pcs. weasands | 86 | .05 per pce.| .95
8 pcs. bladders | 36 | .30 per doz.| .22
14 lbs. weasand meat | | .01 per lb. | .14
----------------------+--------+-----------------+------------
Total value | ... | ... | $10.78
----------------------+--------+-----------------+------------
YIELD FROM HEADS AND FEET OF TWENTY-TWO CATTLE.
================+========+=======+==================+======+========
| |Wt. per| | |
| Total | head, | | | Value
Product |Wt. lbs.| lbs. | Price | Am’t |per head
----------------+--------+-------+------------------+------+--------
Skulls | 88 | 4.00 |$18.00 per ton |$ 0.79|$0.03590
Jaws | 43 | 1.95 | 18.00 per ton | .39| .01772
Knuckles | 63 | 2.86 | 18.00 per ton | .56| .02545
Dark hoofs | 39 | 1.77 | 22.00 per ton | .43| .01954
No. 1 r’nd shins| 26 | 1.18 | 42.00 per ton | .54| .02454
Flat shins | 19 | .86 | 30.00 per ton | .29| .01318
No. 1 tallow | 145 | 6.59 | .06³⁄₄ per lb. | 9.78| .44454
Neatsfoot oil | 23 | 1.05 | .64 per gal.| 1.93| .08773
Tankage | 110 | 5.00 | 16.00 per ton | .88| .04000
----------------+--------+-------+------------------+------+--------
Total | ... | ... | ... |$15.59|$0.70860
----------------+--------+-------+------------------+------+--------
The product sent to tank room was 1,675 pounds green weight, the
average per head being 76.14 pounds.
In figuring the value of the offal in the different tests the materials
sent to the tank room are not taken into consideration. The blood from
the twenty-two cattle was eight pounds per head of dry blood; total,
176 pounds; value, at the rate of $33.00 per ton, equals $2.90.
The sinews from the twenty-two lot was 1.93 pounds per head; total
weight, 42 pounds; value at the rate of $19.00 per ton, equals 40c.
The fat from the twenty-two native cattle showed the following yield in
oleo stock:
{ 1,122 lbs. No. 1 stock = 80.00 per cent.
1,391 lbs. tallow = { 193 lbs. scrap tallow = 13.88 per cent.
{ 76 lbs. waste = 5.46 per cent.
------
100.00 per cent.
The 1,122 pounds of stock showed the following yield in oleo oil and
stearine:
YIELD IN OLEO OIL AND STEARINE.
=================+======+=======+========+=======
| Per |Weight,| Price |
Product | cent | lbs. |per lb. | Value
-----------------+------+-------+--------+------
No. 1 oil | 79.77| 895 |$0.10¹⁄₂| $94.37
No. 1 stearine | 19.52| 219 | .13¹⁄₂| 29.56
Waste in pressing| .71| 8 | ... | ...
-----------------+------+-------+--------+-------
Totals |100.00| 1,122 | ... |$123.93
-----------------+------+-------+--------+-------
The total value of the offal of the twenty-two native cattle, including
the tallow, was $182.67, an average per head of $8.30.
=Yield from Fifty-Nine Texas Cattle.=--The following table shows the
yield in beef, hides and tallow and the value of offal of fifty-nine
fed Texas cattle:
PERCENTAGE OF YIELD OF BEEF, HIDES AND TALLOW.
===============+=======+================+=======+=====
|Weight,| |Weight,| Per
Product | lbs. | Averages | lbs. | cent
---------------+-------+----------------+-------+-----
Live weight |64,260 |Average |1080. | ...
Dressed weight |39,609 |Average | 671. |61.64
Shipping weight|39,365 |Shrinkage | ... | .62
Total fat | 3,896 |Average per head| 66.03| 6.00
Hides | 4,946 |Average per head| 83.92| 7.70
---------------+-------+----------------+-------+-----
The yield in sweetbreads was 59 pieces, weight 20 pounds, value 20c per
pound; total, $4.00.
The output of tripe was 59 pieces, weighing 1,080 pounds, valued at
¹⁄₂c per pound; total value, $5.40. Total value of sweetbreads and
green tripe, $9.40.
TRIMMINGS FROM FIFTY-NINE TEXAS CATTLE.
==============+=======+================+======
|Weight,| | Total
Product | lbs. | Value | value
--------------+-------+----------------+------
59 tongues | 418 |$0.55 each |$32.45
59 livers | 744 | .35 each | 20.65
59 hearts | 160 | .07 each | 4.13
59 tails | 88 | .03¹⁄₂ each | 2.06
Cheek meat | 227 | .03 per lb.| 6.81
Head meat | 37 | .03 per lb.| 1.01
Fine meat | 18 | .03 per lb.| .54
Head trimmings| 24 | .03 per lb.| .72
--------------+-------+----------------+------
Total value | ... | ... |$68.37
--------------+-------+----------------+------
YIELD IN CASINGS FROM FIFTY-NINE CATTLE.
=======================+====+===================+======
|Per | |
|cent| | Total
Product |used| Value | value
-----------------------+----+-------------------+------
52 sets round guts | 88|$0.14 per set |$ 7.28
20 sets middles | 34| .50 per set | 10.00
59 pcs. bungs | 100| .11 per pce. | 6.49
46 pcs. bung gut skins | 78| .01¹⁄₄ per pce.| .57
50 pcs. weasands | 85| .05 per pce. | 2.50
43 pcs. bladders | 73| .30 per doz. | 1.07
24 lbs. weasand meat | ...| .01 per lb. | .24
-----------------------+----+-------------------+------
Total value | ...| ... |$28.15
-----------------------+----+-------------------+------
YIELD IN HEADS AND FEET FROM FIFTY-NINE CATTLE.
=================+=====+=======+==================+======+=======
|Total|Wt. per| | |Value
| Wt. | head | | | per
Product | lbs.| lbs. | Price |Amount| head
-----------------+-----+-------+------------------+------+-------
Skulls | 247 | 4.19 |$18.00 per ton |$ 2.22|$0.0377
Jaws | 130 | 2.20 | 18.00 per ton | 1.17| .0198
Knuckles | 161 | 2.73 | 18.00 per ton | 1.49| .0245
Dark hoofs | 112 | 1.90 | 22.00 per ton | 1.23| .0189
Piths | 73 | 1.24 | 20.00 per ton | .73| .0124
No. 1 r’nd shins | 61 | 1.04 | 42.00 per ton | 1.28| .0218
Flat shins | 43 | .73 | 30.00 per ton | .65| .0109
No. 1 tallow | 527 | 8.93 | .06³⁄₄ per lb. | 35.56| .6027
No. 1 horns | 57 | .97 |200.00 per ton | 5.70| .0970
Neatsfoot oil | 55 | .93 | .64 per gal.| 4.69| .0793
Tankage | 215 | 3.64 | 16.00 per ton | 1.72| .0291
-----------------+-----+-------+------------------+------+-------
Total amount | ... | ... | ... |$56.44|$0.9566
-----------------+-----+-------+------------------+------+-------
The yield in the tank room of fifty-nine Texas cattle was 4,466 pounds
green weight to tanks, the average per head being 75.70 pounds.
The yield in blood of fifty-nine Texas cattle was eight pounds per head
of dry blood; total, 472 pounds; value, at the rate of $33.00 per ton,
equals $7.78.
The yield in sinews of fifty-nine Texas cattle was 1.87 pounds per
head; total weight, 110 pounds; value, at the rate of $19.00 per ton,
equals $1.04.
The fat from the fifty-nine Texas cattle showed the following yield in
oleo stock:
{ 3,169 lbs. No. 1 stock = 81.34 per cent.
3,896 lbs. tallow = { 539 lbs. scrap tallow = 13.84 per cent.
{ 188 lbs. waste = 4.82 per cent.
------
100.00 per cent.
The above 3,169 pounds of stock showed in oleo oil and stearine:
YIELD IN OLEO OIL AND STEARINE.
=================+======+=======+=========+=======
| Per |Weight,| Price |
Product | cent | lbs. | per lb. | Value
-----------------+------+-------+---------+-------
No. 1 oil | 80.75| 2,559 | $0.11 |$281.49
No. 1 stearine | 18.49| 586 | .13¹⁄₂| 79.11
Waste in pressing| .76| 24 | ... | ...
-----------------+------+-------+---------+-------
Totals |100.00| 3,169 | ... |$360.60
-----------------+------+-------+---------+-------
The total value of the offal of fifty-nine Texas cattle, including
tallow, was $531.78; average per head, $9.103.
=Yield from Twenty Heavy Cattle.=--The following tables show the yield
in beef, hides and tallow, and the value of offal of twenty cattle,
eight hides, classified as natives and twelve as spreadies.
The yield in sweetbreads from twenty cattle was: 20 pieces weighing
seven pounds, valued at 20c per pound; total value, $1.40. The yield
in tripe was 20 pieces weighing 420 pounds, valued at ¹⁄₂c per pound;
total value, $2.10. Total value of sweetbreads and green tripe, $3.50.
The product sent to tank room was 1,626 pounds green weight to tanks,
the average per head being 81.3 pounds.
PERCENTAGE OF YIELD IN BEEF, HIDES AND TALLOW.
===============================+=======+================+=======+=====
|Weight,| |Weight,| Per
Product | lbs. | Averages | lbs. | cent
-------------------------------+-------+----------------+-------+-----
Live weight | 24,650|Average |1,232 | ...
Dressed weight | 15,894|Average | 758 |61.64
Shipping weight | 14,914|Shrinkage | | 1.84
Hides weight (eight natives and| | | |
twelve spreadies) | 1,731| ... | 86.5| 7.10
Total fat | 1,552|Average per head| 77.6| 6.20
-------------------------------+-------+----------------+-------+-----
YIELD IN TRIMMINGS FROM TWENTY CATTLE.
==============+======+================+======
| | | Total
Product |Pounds| Value | Value
--------------+------+----------------+------
20 tongues | 173 |$0.55 each |$11.00
20 livers | 261 | .30 each | 7.00
20 hearts | 64 | .07 each | 1.40
20 tails | 33 | .03¹⁄₂ each | .70
Cheek meat | 95 | .03 per lb.| 2.85
Head meat | 16 | .03 per lb.| .48
Fine meat | 10 | .03 per lb.| .30
Head trimmings| 15 | .03 per lb.| .45
--------------+------+----------------+------
Total value | ... | ... |$24.18
--------------+------+----------------+------
YIELD IN CASINGS FROM TWENTY CATTLE.
======================+====+=================+======
| Per| |
|cent| |Total
Product |used| Value |Value
----------------------+----+-----------------+------
19 sets rounds | 95|$0.14 per set |$2.66
7 sets middles | 35| .50 per set | 3.50
20 pcs. bungs | 100| .11 each | 2.20
15 pcs. bung gut skins| 75| .01¹⁄₄ each | .19
8 pcs. weasands | 40| .05 each | .40
9 pcs. bladders | 45| .30 per doz.| .22
11 lbs. weasand meat | ...| .01 per lb. | .11
----------------------+----+-----------------+------
Total value | ...| ... |$9.28
----------------------+----+-----------------+------
The yield in blood from twenty cattle was 8.35 pounds per head of dry
blood; total, 167 pounds; value at the rate of $33.00 per ton, equals
$2.75.
Yield in sinews of twenty cattle was two pounds per head, total weight
40 pounds; value at the rate of $19.00 per ton, equals 38c.
YIELD FROM HEADS AND FEET OF TWENTY CATTLE.
================+=====+=====+===================+======+=======
| | Wt. | | |
|Total| per | | | Value
| wt.,|head,| | | per
Product | lbs.| lbs.| Price |Amount| head
----------------+-----+-----+-------------------+------+-------
Skulls | 84 | 4.20| $18.00 per ton | $0.75|$0.0375
Jaws | 46 | 2.30| 18.00 per ton | .41| .0205
Knuckles | 69 | 3.45| 18.00 per ton | .62| .0310
Hoofs | 43 | 2.15| 22.00 per ton | .47| .0235
No. 1 r’nd shins| 25 | 1.25| 42.00 per ton | .53| .0245
Flat shins | 20 | 1.00| 30.00 per ton | .30| .0150
No. 1 tallow | 165 | 8.25| .06³⁄₄ per lb. | 11.13| .5568
Neatsfoot oil | 32 | 1.60| .64 per gal.| 2.72| .1360
Tankage | 72 | 3.60| 16.00 per ton | .58| .0290
----------------+-----+-----+-------------------+------+-------
Totals | ... | ... | ... |$17.52|$0.8760
----------------+-----+-----+-------------------+------+-------
The fat from twenty cattle produced a yield in oleo stock of
{ 1,265 lbs. No. 1 stock = 81.51 per cent.
1,552 lbs. fat = { 215 lbs. scrap tallow = 13.85 per cent.
{ 72 lbs. waste = 4.64 per cent.
------
100.00 per cent.
The above 1,265 pounds of stock showed the following yield in oleo oil
and stearine:
YIELD IN OLEO AND STEARINE.
=================+======+=======+=========+=======
| Per |Weight,| Price |
Product | cent | lbs. | per lb. | Value
-----------------+------+-------+---------+-------
No. 1 oil | 79.37| 1,004 | $0.11 |$110.44
No. 1 stearine | 20.08| 254 | .14 | 35.56
Waste in pressing| .55| ... | ... | ...
-----------------+------+-------+---------+-------
Totals |100.00| 1,258 | ... |$146.00
-----------------+------+-------+---------+-------
The total value of the offal of above twenty cattle, including the
tallow, was $203.61, an average per head of $10.1805.
=Yield from Thirty-Four Cattle.=--The following table shows the yield
in beef, hides and tallow and the value of offal of thirty-four cattle:
PERCENTAGE OF YIELD IN BEEF, HIDES AMD TALLOW.
===============+=======+============+=======+=====
|Weight,| |Weight,| Per
Product | lbs. | Averages | lbs. | cent
---------------+-------+------------+-------+-----
Live weight | 42,350|Average |1259 | ...
Dressed weight | 25,563|Average | 751 |60.36
Shipping weight| 25,067|Shrinkage | ... | 1.98
Hides weight | 3,027| ... | 89.00| 7.10
Total fat | 2,666|Fat per head| 78.41| 6.30
---------------+-------+------------+-------+-----
YIELD FROM TRIMMINGS OF THIRTY-FOUR CATTLE.
==============+=======+================+======
|Weight,| |Total
Product | lbs. | Value |Value
--------------+-------+----------------+------
34 tongues | 263 |$0.55 each |$18.70
34 livers | 425 | .35 each | 11.90
34 hearts | 173 | .07 each | 2.38
34 tails | 49 | .03¹⁄₂ each | 1.19
Cheek meat | 185 | .03 per lb.| 5.55
Head meat | 32 | .03 per lb.| .96
Fine meat | 19 | .03 per lb.| .57
Head trimmings| 26 | .03 per lb.| .78
--------------+-------+----------------+------
Total value | ... | ... |$42.03
--------------+-------+----------------+------
YIELD FROM CASINGS OF THIRTY-FOUR CATTLE.
======================+====+=================+======
| Per| |
|cent| | Total
Product |used| Value | Value
----------------------+----+-----------------+------
34 sets rounds | 100|$0.14 set | $4.76
13 sets middles | 38| .50 set | 6.50
34 pcs. bungs | 100| .11 each | 3.74
32 pcs. bung gut skins| 94| .01¹⁄₄ each | .40
30 pcs. weasands | 88| .05 each | 1.50
25 pcs. bladders | 74| .30 per doz.| .63
10 lbs. weasand meat | 20| .01 per lb. | .20
----------------------+----+-----------------+------
Total value | ...| ... |$17.73
----------------------+----+-----------------+------
The yield in sweetbreads of same thirty-four cattle was 29 pieces,
weighing nine pounds, valued at 20c per pound; total value of $1.80.
The yield in tripe was 34 pieces, weighing 710 pounds, valued at ¹⁄₂c
per pound; total value, $5.35.
The yield in tank room of same thirty-four cattle was 2,665 pounds
green weight to tanks, the average per head being 78.38 pounds.
Yield in blood of same thirty-four cattle was as follows: 8.6 pounds
per head of dry blood; total, 292 pounds; value at the rate of $33.00
per ton equals $4.82.
The yield in sinews of thirty-four cattle was 1.44 pounds per head;
total weight, 49 pounds; value at the rate of $19.00 per ton equals 46c.
The fat from the thirty-four cattle showed the following yield in oleo
stock:
{ 2,189 lbs. No. 1 stock = 82.11 per cent.
2,666 lbs. fat = { 383 lbs. scrap tallow = 14.37 per cent.
{ 94 lbs. waste = 3.52 per cent.
------
100.00 per cent.
The above 2,189 pounds of stock showed the following yield in oleo oil
and stearine:
YIELD IN OLEO AND STEARINE.
=================+======+=======+=====+=======
| | |Price|
| Per |Weight,| per |
Product | cent | pounds| lb. | Value
-----------------+------+-------+-----+-------
No. 1 oil | 78.04| 1,708 |$0.11|$187.88
No. 1 stearine | 21.06| 461 | .14| 64.54
Waste in pressing| .90| 20 | ... | ...
-----------------+------+-------+-----+-------
Totals |100.00| 2,189 | ... |$252.42
-----------------+------+-------+-----+-------
The total value of the offal of these thirty-four cattle, including the
tallow, was $356.80; an average per head of $10.497.
The foregoing records of tests will show the reader the actual value
of the by-products figured at the time these tests were made. Owing
to changes in the market prices, these figures are not correct for
present conditions, but the percentage of yield and different items
are correct, and the reader can take any one of these tests and by
substituting the market prices of today obtain figures of value.
These tests also give the percentage of the hide and tallow. The
latter, as will be noted, is quite high, as it will be seen that the
tests were made on a fairly fat grade of cattle.
=Percentage of Various Cuts of Beef.=--Nearly every large city has
its special ways and peculiarities of cutting meats, consequently the
percentage of the different cuts varies largely. The following table
is a record of results from a cutting test and shows the percentage of
“Chicago cut” meat with square cut chucks:
Per
Chicago Cuts-- Cent.
Chucks 28.00
Rounds 23.00
Navels 8.00
Flanks 2.00
Flank steaks .50
Kidney .25
Ribs 10.00
Loins 15.00
No. 2 suet .50
No. 1 suet 3.00
Shanks 4.00
Brisket 5.00
Necks .75
-------
100.00
The following table shows percentage on cattle cut Chicago style, with
the exception of a “Kosher chuck” the latter consisting of five-rib,
four-quarter cut-off from the side of the beef:
Per
New York Cuts (Natives)-- Cent.
Ribs 9.55
Loins 15.74
Flanks 5.55
Navels 8.61
Suet 3.62
Rounds 23.27
New York chucks 33.66
------
100.00
The following table shows the percentage on cattle cut Philadelphia
style:
Per
Philadelphia Cuts-- Cent.
Rump and round 34.00
Rattler (chuck, plate, brisket and shank) 44.00
Ribs and loins 22.00
------
100.00
The following table gives the result of tests and shows in detail
the percentages in cutting canner cattle. As will be understood, for
canning purposes, a light grade of animals is always used; cattle that
are too light or too thin are always used for other purposes. In such
cases the meats are always boned-out and the different cuts of the meat
are here enumerated, showing their percentages:
Per
Packing House Cuts-- Cent.
Sirloin butts 3.903
Strips 4.204
Tenderloins 2.552
Boneless chucks 13.813
Rolls 2.552
Plates 12.162
Insides 7.957
Outsides 5.555
Knuckles 5.555
Clods 5.105
Rump butts 2.402
Flank steak .600
Hanging tenderloin .450
Front shanks 7.207
Hind shanks 4.650
Soft bones 6.906
Trimmings 8.108
Tallow 4.519
Kidneys .600
------
100.00
=Explanatory.=--Part of the data following and quoted in this chapter
is from an excellent bulletin issued by the University of Illinois
Agricultural Experiment Station, by Louis D. Hall. This is so clearly
expressed and well illustrated that nothing need be added to the
subject. The same is true regarding data shown on mutton and on hogs.
=Beef Cuts.=--“Wholesale fresh beef” trade is about equally divided
between carcass beef and beef cuts. The latter are sold both as
“straight cuts” and as subdivisions thereof. The “straight cuts”
handled in Chicago markets are Loins, Ribs, Rounds, Chucks, Plates,
Flanks and Shanks (Fig. 44). The loin is separated from the round at
the hip joint. The flank is cut from about the middle of the thirteenth
rib to the opposite lower corner of the loin. The shank is sawed off
just below the second knuckle (shoulder joint). The plate is cut off on
a line extending from about the middle of the twelfth rib through the
point at which the shank is removed. The rib and chuck are separated
between the fifth and sixth ribs.
[Illustration: FIG. 44.--CHICAGO BEEF CUTS.
1, 2, 3. Round
4, 5, 6. Loin
7. Rib
8. Chuck
9. Flank
10, 11. Plate
12. Shank
13. Suet
1. Hind shank
2. Round, R. & S. off
3. Rump
4, 5. Loin end
6. Pinbone loin
5, 6. Flatbone loin
10. Navel
11. Brisket
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9. Hind quarter
7, 8, 10, 11, 12. Fore quarter
7, 8. Back
7, 10. Piece
8, 11, 12. Kosher chuck
8, 10, 11, 12. Triangle
a. Aitch-bone
b. Rump-bone
c. Crotch
d. Cod
e. Chine-bones
f. “Buttons”
g. Skirt
h. Breast-bone]
The standard grades of straight cuts are No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3. Cuts
that are too deficient in thickness and quality to be used on the
butcher’s block, and which are consequently made into boneless cuts,
barreled beef, sausage, etc., are termed “strippers.”
=Diagram of Cutting.=--The page illustrating a diagram of cutting shows
the “Chicago” method of dividing the animal if cut for sale.
=Grading.=--“Weight affects the grade of a beef cut about the same as
in grading a carcass. No. 1 cuts are principally from choice and prime
800 to 1,000-pound native steer carcasses and choice 750 to 900-pound
native cows; No. 2’s are largely from medium and good 650 to 800-pound
steers and 600 to 750-pound cows; and No. 3’s are made chiefly from 450
to 600-pound common and medium cows, also from Texas and light Western
steers. Stripper cuts are made from canners, medium and common bulls,
Texas and common light Western cattle.
AVERAGE WEIGHTS OF STRAIGHT BEEF CUTS (POUNDS)
Grade Loins Ribs Rounds Chucks Plates Flanks Shanks
No. 1 50-85 30-50 75-110 75-110 40-80 15-20 10-20
No. 2 40-60 25-35 60-80 60-80 30-50 10-15 5-10
No. 3 25-40 20-25 40-60 40-60 20-35 5-10 5-10
Strippers 20-30 15-20 30-40 30-40 15-20 5-10 5-10
=Loins.=--“The loin is the highest-priced cut of the carcass because
of the tenderness and quality of the lean. The grade of a loin may be
determined by marked excellence or deficiency in either thickness,
covering or quality, or by a uniform degree of development in all
respects. _No. 1’s_ must have a full, well-rounded shape, a complete
covering of white fat, the thickness of which is in proper proportion
to the lean, and bright, firm, fine-grained, well-marbled flesh. _No.
2’s_ are generally less rounded in form, with insufficient, excessive,
or uneven covering and a slight deficiency in grain, marbling or color
of flesh; while _No. 3’s_ are more flat in shape, nearly or entirely
lacking in covering of fat and very deficient in thickness and quality
of flesh, but sufficiently developed to be cut into porterhouse and
sirloin steaks for cheap trade (Fig. 45). Stripper loins have no
outside fat and are usually extremely flat and rough in shape, with
dark-colored, coarse-grained flesh, and hard, white bone.
[Illustration: FIG. 45.--A. FLAT BONE LOINS, NO. 1, NO. 2 AND NO. 3
GRADES. B. REGULAR LOINS, NO. 1, NO. 2 AND NO. 3 GRADES.]
[Illustration: FIG. 46.--RIBS, NO. 1, NO. 2 AND NO. 3 GRADES. A. FRONT.
B. REAR.]
[Illustration: FIG. 47.--ROUNDS, NO. 1, NO. 2 AND NO. 3 GRADES.]
[Illustration: FIG. 48.--CHUCKS, NO. 1, NO. 2 AND NO. 3 GRADES. (ABOVE,
REAR VIEW. BELOW, SIDE VIEW.)]
=Ribs.=--“This cut, which includes the portion between the loin and
chuck, contains the best roasts. The poorer quality of ribs are boned
and make ‘the roll.’ A ‘regular roll’ consists of the lean part of the
rib with backbone removed and shoulder blade fat cut away. ‘Spencer’
rolls are of the same type, except that the covering is left on the
lean, exclusive of that over blade bone, which is removed.
=Rounds.=--“The cut surface of the full round is identical with the
butt end of the corresponding loin. Cuts of various types of rounds are
shown in Fig. 47. An excess of rounds under average conditions makes it
necessary to divide the rounds further into rump butts used for corn
beef; beef hams used for dried beef, and shanks for sausage meat.
“In stripping a bullock for beef hams, it is divided into three parts,
known as a set, viz., inside, outside, and knuckle pieces.
=Chucks.=--“The style of cutting shown in Fig. 48 is known as the
square chuck, and is the style most used in Chicago wholesale markets.
Chucks are sometimes cut ‘knuckle out’ by removing the shank with a
knife at the second knuckle instead of sawing off below the joint. The
lower grades of chucks are often further divided in order to make the
cut more saleable. Such cuts are the shoulder clod and boneless chuck.
The shoulder clod is a wedge-shaped piece cut from the fleshy part of
the chuck just back of the shoulder blade, and extending from the elbow
of the shank nearly or quite to the backbone. It is taken mainly from
_No. 3_ and ‘stripper’ cuts, and to a small extent from _No. 1’s_ and
_2’s_. It is a boneless cut weighing six to fifteen pounds, and sells
from 10 to 20 per cent above chuck quotations.”
A “kosher” chuck consists of the square chuck, shank, brisket and neck
in one piece, the forequarter with rib and navel piece off.
=Plates, Shanks, and Flanks.=--“These are usually boned and the parts
used in sausage department and bonehouse, except in the heavier cuts of
plates and flanks, which are used in mess beef.
=Barreled Beef.=--“The demand for barreled beef is a receding item in
packing house usage. Formerly it was a large item. The quotation gives
the grading and naming:
[Illustration: FIG. 49.--A, BEEF HAMS (LEFT, “INSIDE”; CENTER,
“OUTSIDE”; RIGHT, “KNUCKLE”). B, TENDERLOIN. C, SHOULDER CLOD.]
“_Extra India Mess Beef_ is made from heavy fat _No. 1_ plates weighing
65 to 80 pounds, cut into pieces of about eight pounds average and
packed in tierces or barrels. It is the highest grade of barreled beef
and is sold largely through British markets for army and navy use.
Fulton Market Beef is of the same quality as Extra India, but from 60
to 70 pound plates, and is usually put up in half barrels or tubs for
domestic trade. These and the two following grades of plate beef are
usually packed with the lower side of the brisket piece removed.
“_Extra Plate (Extra Family) Beef_ is cut from moderately fat _No. 1_
plates (50 to 60 pounds), and packed like Extra India. It is exported
principally to various countries in northern Europe.
“_Regular Plate or Family Beef_ consists of _No. 2_ plates (40 to 50
pounds), with a good proportion of fat and lean, cut into pieces of six
to eight pounds and packed the same as Extra India. It is also sold
largely in northern European countries.
“_Packet Beef_ is made from 30 to 40-pound plates (heavy _No. 3’s_ and
light _No. 2’s_) cut the same as other grades of plate beef. It is
used throughout Europe, the West Indies, Central and South America.
“_Common Plate Beef_ is made from _No. 3_ plates, 20 to 30 pounds
average, cut and packed as explained above. It is the lowest grade or
barreled plate beef. This grade, also Prime Mess and Extra Mess Beef,
is sold to the same trade as Packet Beef.
[Illustration: FIG. 50.--SHANKS. NO. 1 GRADE, NO. 2 GRADE, NO. 3 GRADE.
CLOD ON.]
“_Rolled Boneless Beef_ (Rolled Beef or Rollettes) consists of plates
with a portion of the brisket cut off, the remainder of plate being
boned, rolled and wound with twine. It is made from _No. 2_ and _No.
3_ plates of 25 to 40 pounds average. The rolls weigh eight to twelve
pounds and are cured in mild brine.
“_Prime Mess Beef_ consists of about 100 pounds of plates and 100
pounds of chucks, rumps and flanks per barrel cut into pieces of six to
nine pounds. The proportions of the cuts named are varied according to
demands and may contain 100 pounds of chucks with the remainder plates,
flanks and rumps, or as otherwise specified. This grade is made from
heavy _No. 3_ and light _No. 2_ cuts.
“_Extra Mess Beef_ contains the same assortment of cuts as Prime Mess,
but is made only from _No. 3_ cuts.
“_Ramp Butt Beef_ is cut from rumps off the medium and lower grades
of rounds, and is boneless except a small piece of tail-bone. The
pieces average four to six pounds each. It is sold largely in lumbering
districts and to the fisheries trade.”