The Certified Angus Beef ® brand Natural Niche
By definition, niche production isn't for everyone. But if you want to raise Angus cattle with detailed records that document no implants, antibiotics or animal-derived feed, there's good news. Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB) licensed two companies to produce Certified Angus Beef ® brand Natural, Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc. and Niman Ranch.
Cattle must first be accepted for the Certified Angus Beef ® brand. Live cattle must be Angus-influenced, predominately (51%) solid black hair coat or AngusSource ®enrolled, animals must pass ten product specifications to qualify for the CABbrand. Producers must also sign an affidavit saying that their cattle never received antibiotics (fed or injected), hormones or animal byproducts, in order to meet the additional requirements of CAB brand Natural. Carcass specifications are:
- Modest or higher marbling
- Medium or fine marbling texture
- "A" maturity for each, lean and skeletal characteristics
- 10 to 16 square inch ribeye area
- Less than 1,000 pound hot carcass weight
- Less than 1 inch fat thickness
- Superior muscling (eliminates dairy influence)
- Practically free of capillary rupture
- No dark cutters
- No neck hump exceeding 2 inches
Interest in CAB brand Natural is high. If you would like more information on producing or feeding beef for the program, please contact:
- Mark McCully, CAB Supply Development Director, 330-345-2333
- John Farley, Beef Marketing Group, 620-792-5886
- John Tarpoff, Niman Ranch, 618-973-5961