Beef carcass weights are averaging 990 pounds, up 25 pounds over the past year. There is good news and bad news with that trend. With a smaller cattle supply, more beef is needed with every carcass. Carmel Miller, a director with the North Dakota Beef Commission, says there are also unattended consequences.
Think about a larger animal, they’re seeing some concern with bruising on the toplines as cattle are loading onto trucks; Also, the packing plants aren’t really built for that large of a carcass.” A larger carcass also has implications for the consumer. “I like a big, fat, juicy steak, and larger carcasses can result in having to cut the steak thinner to get the same amount of ounces.”
