USDA, Agriculture Research Services, Roman L Hruska US Meat Animal Research Center, Bldg. 1, Clay Center, Nebraska 68933

B -- EVALUATION OF TENDERNESS CLASSIFIED BEEF SOL 6-99 DUE 031699 POC Carol Gill 402/762-4144 The U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (MARC) is seeking a federally-inspected beef processor to participate in an national consumer evaluation of tenderness classified beef. The company must regularly slaughter grain-fed beef and process carcsses into vacuum-packaged boxed beef. The company must provide MARC scientists with floor space, 208 V, 3-phase electrical service, and meat cutting tables for application of the tenderness classification process within their processing facility. Because tenderness classification involves steak cooking and generates smoke, the floor space for tenderness classification must be ventilated and outside of the federaly-inspected processing area. The floor space must be at least 10 feet X 30 feet and located in close proximity to the beef carcass cooler. The company must regularly process enough U.S. Choice and U.S. Select carcasses to facilitate the completion of this experiment within a two week timeframe. The company must allow MARC scientist to remove a one-inch-thicksteak from the anterior end of the strip loin of the left side of 1,000 carcasses for tenderness classification at 36 h postmortem. MARC will compensate the company for the value of the steaks removed for tenderness classification. Based on the results of tenderness classification, MARC scientist will select 320 carcasses for inclusion in the consumer test. Therefore, the company must be willing to hold the carcasses in the beef cooler while MARC scientist complete the tenderness classification and selection processes. Of those carcasses selected, MARC will individually identify the left and right striploin (IMPS #180) and the left top sirloin butt (IMPS #184). The company must insure that individual identity of the subprimals is preserved throughout fabrication and vacuum packaging. The company must have secure refrigerated space to store subprimals during the study. MARC will purchase the subprimals at fair market value. Approximate weights of each product to be purchased are: 4500 pounds U.S. Choice 180 strip loin; 4500 pounds U.S. Select 180 strip loin; 2300 pounds U.S. Choice 184 top sirloin; 2300 pounds U.S. Select 184 top sirloin. Posted 03/10/99 (W-SN307017). (0069)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0023 19990312\B-0002.SOL)