Table 8.

NBQA: mean values for USDA carcass grade traits

Trait	n	Mean	SD	Min.	Max.
Beef cows
USDA yield grade	529	3.1	1.04	0.0	7.4
Adjusted fat thickness, cm	1,718	0.7	0.74	0.0	4.6
HCW, kg	1,728	311.1	86.83	25.5	585.0
LM area, cm2	1,132	64.2	17.96	19.35	123.8
KPH, %	628	1.5	1.06	0.0	4.5
Marbling score1	1,060	346	131.24	100	970
Lean maturity2	1,109	357	131.32	110	600
Skeletal maturity2	1,734	497	126.24	100	600
Overall maturity2	1,109	443	109.57	150	600
Dairy cows
USDA yield grade	633	2.8	0.84	0.2	5.8
Adjusted fat thickness, cm	1,708	0.4	0.43	0.0	3.0
HCW, kg	1,714	303.4	73.93	91.8	549.1
LM area, cm2	1,133	64.6	15.75	20.0	107.1
KPH, %	696	1.8	1.40	0.0	7.5
Marbling score	1,124	367	142.45	100	950
Lean maturity	1,117	315	127.53	120	600
Skeletal maturity	1,713	413	150.99	110	600
Overall maturity	1,117	387	126.64	145	600
Beef bulls
USDA yield grade	28	2.4	0.98	0.9	4.8
Adjusted fat thickness, cm	208	0.4	0.49	0.0	3.6
HCW, kg	210	398.4	91.06	115.5	782.3
LM area, cm2	141	78.8	16.03	28.38	114.2
KPH, %	33	1.1	0.79	0.0	3.0
Marbling score	129	258	82.99	100	490
Lean maturity	137	380	141.86	160	600
Skeletal maturity	213	422	153.68	140	600
Overall maturity	137	399	136.76	160	600
Dairy bulls
USDA yield grade	14	2.0	0.7	0.6	2.9
Adjusted fat thickness, cm	58	0.3	0.30	0.0	1.9
HCW, kg	59	373.0	101.68	155.5	665.0
LM area, cm2	26	77.5	18.28	36.1	109.7
KPH, %	16	1.2	0.82	0.0	2.5
Marbling score	26	273	89.99	100	440
Lean maturity	26	360	141.27	140	600
Skeletal maturity	59	319	151.75	120	600
Overall maturity	26	360	129.36	160	600

¹100 = practically devoid⁰⁰, 200 = traces⁰⁰, 300 = slight⁰⁰, 400 = small⁰⁰, 500 = modest⁰⁰, 600 = moderate⁰⁰, 700 = slightly abundant⁰⁰, 800 = moderately abundant⁰⁰, and 900 = abundant⁰⁰ (USDA, 2016). ²100 = A⁰⁰, 200 = B⁰⁰, 300 = C⁰⁰, 400 = D⁰⁰, 500 = E⁰⁰ (USDA, 2016).