USDA Prime is the grading standard for the highest marbling (equated with the “highest quality”) in American beef. Of the over more than 750,000 animals processed weekly in this country, less than 2% qualifies for this standard. According to the Department of Agriculture Meat Buyer’s Guide, “…the marbling of fat within a muscle must be Moderately Abundant or better.” How do they do it? The grade is determined by cutting between the 12th and 13th ribs and looking at the muscle at that point. If the carcass is determined to meat the Prime grade, it is then stamped “Prime”.
At DeBragga we are proud to offer the finest Midwestern grain fed Prime cattle available in the United States. We focus our purchasing on the states of Iowa and Nebraska because this is where we believe the finest Prime beef comes from.