Certified Angus Beef Program

PREMIUM: 2-6%

The USDA requirements for cattle to participate in the Certified Angus Beef (CAB) program are comprehensive and specific. Carcasses must meet the following requirements.

Phenotypic and Genotypic Requirements

Cattle must meet the phenotypic or genotypic requirements of the American Angus Association’s Live Animal Specification. This typically means:

• Predominantly solid black or red hide
• Angus-influenced genetics

Carcass Specifications

To qualify for CAB, carcasses must meet the following USDA-approved specifications:

1. Grade and Marbling: U.S. Prime or Choice grade with a minimum marbling score of Modest 01
2. Age: Less than 30 months of age
3. Maturity: A-maturity lean color, texture, and firmness
4. Marbling Texture: Medium or fine
5. Ribeye Area: 10.0 to 16.0 square inches
6. Hot Carcass Weight: 1,100 pounds or less
7. Fat Thickness: 1 inch or less
8. Muscling: Superior muscling (moderately thick or thicker)
9. Capillary Rupture: Practically free in the ribeye muscle
10. Color: No “dark cutting” characteristics
11. Neck Hump: Not exceeding 2 inches in height

Additional Considerations

• Only steer and heifer carcasses are eligible
• The program allows for both black and red Angus cattle
• Cattle must be harvested in USDA-inspected facilities with official graders present

It’s important to note that meeting these requirements doesn’t automatically qualify cattle for the CAB program. The carcasses must be certified by a USDA grader and meet all ten of CAB’s quality specifications to earn the Certified Angus Beef label.

Grass-Fed Program

PREMIUM: 2-12%

Real Kansas Meats adheres to both the American Grassfed Association (AGA) and USDA Grass Fed Program standards, ensuring that our beef is raised in the most sustainable, humane, and transparent way possible.

The American Grassfed Association (AGA) requires that certified “grass-fed” animals must be fed a 100% grass diet from weaning to harvest, be raised on pasture without confinement, receive no antibiotics or added growth hormones, and be born and raised on American family farms; essentially meaning their animals must only consume forage from pasture throughout their lives, with no grain supplementation, and adhere to humane animal care practices.

Key points of AGA standards:

1. Diet: 100% grass and forage, no grain
2. Pasture-raised: Animals must be raised on open pasture, not confined
3. No antibiotics or hormones: No added growth hormones or antibiotics allowed
4. Family farm focus: Supports American family farms

Important note: The AGA logo on a product indicates that the producer adheres to these standards and has been certified by the association.

USDA Grass Fed Program Requirements:

1. Feed: Cattle must be fed only grass and forage throughout their lifetime, with the exception of milk consumed prior to weaning. Acceptable feed sources include:
   • Grass (annual and perennial)
   • Forbs (e.g., legumes, Brassica)
   • Browse
   • Cereal grain crops in the vegetative (pre-grain) state
   • Hay, haylage, baleage, silage
   • Crop residue without grain
   • Other roughage sources
2. Pasture access: Animals must have continuous access to pasture during the growing season.
3. Prohibited feed: Cattle cannot be fed grain or grain by-products.
4. Record keeping: Producers must maintain records that trace animals from birth to harvest.
5. Identification: Animals must be identified at the earliest opportunity following birth using a producer-determined identification system.
6. Origin: Animals must be born and raised in the United States.

It’s important to note that the USDA Grass Fed Program focuses solely on feeding practices and does not address other factors such as the use of hormones or antibiotics

All-Natural Program

PREMIUM: 2-15%

RKM’s all-natural cattle programs specifications and requirements:

1. Focus on preventative healthcare, such as vaccinations and health records.
2. Antibiotic use is prohibited.
   • Fed antibiotics approved by the USDA as All-Natural and approved by RKM may be accepted.
3. The following medications and supplements are prohibited:
   • Rumensin
   • CTC
   • Bovitec
   • Corid
4. Quarterly physical inspections of livestock participating in the All-Natural program are required.
5. Animals in the All-Natural program must have updated records including:
   • Feed intake
   • Sire and dam
   • Birth date
   • Sex
   • Weaning date

Wagyu Program

PREMIUM: 2-16%

Cattle eligible for the RKM Wagyu program must meet the following requirements:

Genotype Requirements:

1. Cattle must have positive identification (e.g., ear tags, tattoos, brands) and be traceable to provable Wagyu parentage.
2. Qualifying cattle must be traceable to at least one registered parent (Fullblood or Purebred).

Parentage:

1. The animal must be an offspring of either:
2. A registered sire of at least 15/16 or 93.75% Wagyu blood (Fullblood or Purebred).
3. A registered dam of at least 15/16 or 93.75% Wagyu blood (Fullblood or Purebred).

Registration:

1. For Wagyu Fullblood (100% Wagyu) certified beef programs, cattle must be registered with the American Wagyu Association (AWA) and DNA parent verified through the AWA to both sire and dam.
2. For Wagyu Purebred (93.75% Wagyu minimum) certified beef programs, cattle must also be registered with the AWA and DNA parent verified to both sire and dam.

Carcass Requirements:

1. Carcasses must be from steers and heifers only
2. Must grade U.S. Prime, Choice, or Select with a minimum marbling score of Slight00
3. Lean color, texture, and firmness must meet the requirements for A or B maturity in the U.S. grade it qualifies under
4. No hump exceeding 2 inches in height
5. Practically free of capillary rupture in the ribeye muscle
6. Free of “dark cutting” characteristics.

Compliance with these requirements is verified through a quality management program approved and monitored by the USDA’s Livestock and Poultry Program

Non-Hormone Treated Cattle Program

PREMIUM: 1-3%

The USDA Non-Hormone Treated Cattle (NHTC) Program is a verification program designed to provide traceability and certification for cattle that have never been treated with hormonal growth promotants (HGPs).

 Eligibility Requirements:

1. Born, raised, and processed in the United States or an approved region.
2. Never administered hormonal growth promotants (HGPs) at any stage of life.
3. Maintained under an approved quality management system that ensures compliance with program standards.
4. Properly identified and traceable through records from birth to slaughter.

Identification and Traceability:

1. Unique identification numbers assigned to individual cattle.
2. Documentation verifying the non-use of hormones from birth to processing.
3. Regular audits and records maintenance to ensure integrity.

 Management and Record-Keeping:

1. Birth records or purchase documentation confirming cattle’s origin.
2. Feed records ensuring no hormone-supplemented feed additives were used.
3. Veterinary treatment records proving no hormone-based treatments were administered.
4. Shipping and receiving records tracking cattle movement.

On-Farm and Feedlot Requirements:

1. Segregation of NHTC cattle from those treated with hormones.
2. Use of approved feed sources and production inputs.
3. Regular self-audits and third-party verifications to ensure compliance.

Third-Party Verification:

1. Conduct audits of participating operations.
2. Verify compliance through documentation and on-site inspections.
3. Issue certification for eligible cattle and operations.

Processing and Slaughter Compliance:

1. Maintain segregation of NHTC cattle throughout processing.
2. Implement control measures preventing cross-contamination.
3. Adhere to stringent record-keeping and verification requirements.