Canadian Beef Processing System

In this section:

Dotted Arrow Quality that Inspires Confidence
A Food Safety System
Products that Meet Your Needs
Certified Beef Shipments
Canadian Beef Processing System Advantages

Quality that Inspires Confidence

The high quality of Canadian beef has been recognized by buyers in more than 100 countries around the world. Grading of beef carcasses is performed in accordance with strict national standards. Canada has also adopted a harmonized beef marbling criteria which are aligned with those utilized under the U.S. grading system.

A Food Safety System

Canada's food safety systems for meat plants are based on the internationally recognized Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) model.

A complete HACCP system is mandatory for all federally inspected meat plants, and requires both prerequisite programs as well as HACCP plans. Prerequisite programs are general procedures or good manufacturing practices (GMPs) that enhance food accordance with strict national standards for attributes safety for all meat production processes. HACCP plans build on the foundation provided by the prerequisite programs and are designed specifically for each production process.

Products that Meet Your Needs

Canada can supply beef produced from cattle finished on corn or barley/wheat based diets. Canadian beef suppliers offer a broad range of products which fit your business needs, including, carcasses, boxed beef, offals, trim, portioned controlled product as well as processed/value-added items. Branded beef products are also available.

Certified Beef Shipments

Branded beef programs can enhance value by providing defined attributes for quality and production parameters which distinguish branded product from commodity items. Canada Beef Inc. offers a variety of tools to assist in the development and promotion of branded beef. We offer financial support through our Partner's Program as well as expertise in areas such as marketing and supply chain development. We can also help you communicate the attributes from gate-to-plate which create the Canadian Beef Advantage. The new Canadian Beef logo is also available to partners who wish to leverage the established consumer preference for Canadian beef.

Canadian Beef Processing System Advantages

BRANDED PROGRAMS

More than 85% of U.S. and Canadian retail meat professionals surveyed indicated they prefer to purchase beef produced under a branded program with defined standards for quality attributes like aging and marbling. Canadian suppliers offer a variety of branded beef programs.

HIGH YIELD

The Canadian beef grading system and genetic improvement programs on-farm have targeted the development of high yielding carcasses. More than half of Canadian carcasses are assigned to the highest yield class following evaluation by certified graders. Carcasses with more lean and less fat can reduce labour costs and enhance value.

QUALITY GRADE STANDARDS

To qualify for the Canada A, AA, AAA and Prime grades, each quality standard must be satisfied and any deficiency cannot be offset by other traits. Eating quality and the visual appearance of retail beef are among the most important factors influencing consumer purchases of roasts and steaks. A key function of the Canadian beef grading system is to assess related attributes such as meat and fat colour as well as marbling.

MANDATORY HACCP SYSTEMS

A complete HACCP system satisfying USDA requirements is mandatory for all Canadian establishments. These systems include prerequisite programs, which are general procedures or good manufacturing practices (GMPs) that enhance food safety for all meat production processes.

MICROBIOLOGICAL CONTROLS

The development of rapid and increasingly sensitive E. coli O157:H7 culture methods have allowed the use of test-and-hold systems which reduce related product recalls. Canada's processors also use antimicrobial treatments designed to inactivate bacteria which may be present on beef, such as pasteurizing the surface of the carcass with steam or hot water.