Ribeye area and consumer acceptability

Help Support Steer Planet:

simtal

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 3, 2008
Messages
1,066
Location
Champaign, IL
Thought I would share this:

http://jas.fass.org/cgi/content/abstract/jas.2009-1789v1

Associations between portion size acceptability of beef cuts and ribeye area of beef carcasses

Abstract

Carcasses that do not conform to mainstream specifications (e.i., those with non-conforming ribeye area) may not achieve their full potential value. Research was conducted to evaluate the relationship between beef carcass LM area at the 12th and 13th rib interface (LMA) and portion size acceptability of other muscles in the carcass. Sixty beef carcass sides of varying LMA sizes (between 67.74 and 116.13 cm2) were fabricated to generate 14 individual muscle cuts (triceps brachii long head, infraspinatus, chuckeye complexus, pectoralis profundus, longissimus thoracis, latissimus dorsi, gluteus medius, longissimus lumborum, tensor fasciae latae, psoas major, semimembranosus, biceps femoris, semitendinosus, and vastus lateralis). Retail portion size (g/1.27-cm-thick steak) as well as face surface area and dimensions were recorded for each steak cut perpendicular at the midpoint of the longitudinal axis of each muscle. Subsequently, a nationwide survey was conducted with foodservice chefs and retail meat merchandisers to evaluate acceptability of portion sizes and dimensions of individual muscle cuts. Simple linear regression and non-parametric regression analyses were used to evaluate results of the carcass muscle evaluation and survey, respectively. Results demonstrated that LMA did not affect (P < 0.05) retail portion size of 7 of the 14 muscles (chuckeye complexus, pectoralis profundus, psoas major, semimembranosus, tensor fasciae latae, triceps brachii, and vastus lateralis). Similarly, LMA did not affect (P < 0.05) surface area of steak cross-sectional face areas from 7 of the 14 muscles (chuckeye complexus, psoas major, semimembranosus, tensor fasciae latae, infraspinatus, vastus lateralis and latissimus dorsi). Muscles for which carcass LMA (P < 0.05) was related to either portion size or surface area of portion steaks, or both, were included in the survey. Results of the survey demonstrated that portion size for many muscles were still acceptable to retail merchandisers and foodservice chefs, even though carcass LMA was outside the range of commercially acceptable sizes. Results of this study demonstrated that carcass LMA is not an accurate determinant of the size, and subsequent acceptability, of many other muscles of beef in the carcasses, and may not be a good determinant of value of the beef carcass.
 

knabe

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 7, 2007
Messages
13,639
Location
Hollister, CA
simtal said:
Results of this study demonstrated that carcass LMA is not an accurate determinant of the size, and subsequent acceptability, of many other muscles of beef in the carcasses, and may not be a good determinant of value of the beef carcass.

so size is not a good predictor of LMA?, ie 1"/100lbs?

from experience, LM come in different shapes and some are quite unexpected, at least to this untrained eye from on the hoof versus on the rail evaluation.  probably next to marbling, the most scary thing for me for carcass.

seems like different muscles are under different selection.  not sure i like the portion size break down but would prefer a primal cut comparison.  don't really know.  not a meat scientist.
 

simtal

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 3, 2008
Messages
1,066
Location
Champaign, IL
knabe said:
simtal said:
Results of this study demonstrated that carcass LMA is not an accurate determinant of the size, and subsequent acceptability, of many other muscles of beef in the carcasses, and may not be a good determinant of value of the beef carcass.

so size is not a good predictor of LMA?, ie 1"/100lbs?

Well, other research has shown that the yield grade equation is bias against heavy carcasses.  Meaning that heavy carcasses have greater ribeye requirements than they should have, while lighter carcasses can have smaller ribeyes and should be bigger; if the yield grade equation is truly linear.
 
Top