The South African meat industry, including cattle and poultry, is an important source of revenue in South Africa. According to a survey in 2023, the estimated South African meat industry was 629.69 million USD in 2024, with a consistent increase of 6.88% to 878.23 million USD by 2029. However, beef is one of the most popular among the various types of meat sold, with ten kinds of breeds. These breeds have earned global acclamation for not only their meat but milk in some cases as well. Here, we will provide details on the eight major types of beef-grade. Read along to know more.
What are the eight beef grades?
The dominance of beef farming in South Africa should be noticed because of several unique cattle breeds. Prime, Choice, Select, Standard, Commercial, Utility, Cutter, and Canner are the eight quality grades of beef produced to cater to a large section of the population. Scroll more to read their features and usages.
Prime - This is the highest quality of beef that can ever be obtained; it has also been awarded with a similar title. The marbling in this grade is abundant, with a fat content of 8-13%. This is the grade of beef you can find in fine dining restaurants, steak houses, etc. The cuts for this are wagyu and prime rib.
Choice - This quality beef is the second highest grade after Prime, having a lesser marbling percentage than Prime. The fat content in this case is 4-10% and is the most common standard beef, comprising 50-55% of the total production. The major required cuts are Ribeye and Sirloin.
Select - In comparison to the ones mentioned above, Select has a far lower marbling, making it less juicy than them. The fat content is as low as 2-4%, which makes it more affordable, and they are lean in nature. The basic cuts are chuck, brisket, and shank.
Standard - In the South African meat industry, this grade gets the least preference because of its lower marbling, resulting in being considered the lesser grade. This quality is most popular in grocery stores and must be tenderized and marinated to make it juicy and flavorful.
Commercial - Procured from older cattle, they are used in grounded beef. They are blended with other beef qualities to make grounded beef blends commonly used in hamburgers, meatballs, etc. This mixing helps economize the ground beef, making it affordable to everyone.
Utility, Cutter, Canner - These three quality beef are not sold as raw beef for food service. Rather, their major usages are in soup, stews and frozen meals. Cutters and canners are also used to make pet food.
Final Thoughts
The reason behind the growing popularity of beef farming in South Africa is its ability to independently curate beef that can serve all sections of society and fulfil all kinds of usages, from high-end restaurants to pet food. Cattles from South Africa are also sold worldwide because of their prime quality and unique features.