Cattle prices are at historical highs and a window of opportunity is open for herd focused genetic improvement giving you options when prices return to lower levels. Tenet® beef quality certification is a herd genetic improvement creating opportunities now and into the future of the American beef industry.
Tenet® is a recent cattle genetic discovery that eliminates beef quality and tenderness issues. Tenet® certification is an easy DNA test, requiring 3 or 4 drops of blood taken at any time during the animal’s life. Once completed, the Tenet® test makes it possible to accurately select cattle with the highest level of beef tenderness.
Why is this important? American beef consumers rank beef tenderness as a shortfall in USDA consumer surveys for the last thirty years. (1) In current data consumers believed beef was less than ideal in tenderness 23% of the time. The negative numbers grew to 33% in grass finished beef. Tenet® certification is available and is the solution to tenderness issues in American beef.
USDA Quality Grades versus Beef Tenderness
The USDA Beef Quality grades of Select, Choice and Prime were designed in the 1920’s and implemented in 1964. The grades are awarded on a subjective determination of intermuscular fat (marbling). Higher levels of marbling were thought to increase beef tenderness and awarded a higher quality grade and better price.
Research shows beef tenderness and fat (marbling) are not the same thing. A wide range of beef tenderness exists in the normal market. Consumers encounter very tough Prime graded beef as easily as they encounter a wonderful Select piece of beef.
Beef cattle have changed since 1964. USDA quality grading needs to be updated. The market does not need heavy weight carcasses and the issues surrounding producing heavy weights. Tenet® is the new standard for the highest level of tenderness. A Tenet® certified Select, Choice, Prime and even Wagyu will have the highest level of tenderness available.
How is Tenet® Certification Different?
Tenet® uses a different genomic test and marker than anyone else. Tenet® is a very accurate method for the genetic selection of the highest level of beef tenderness. This is a new test and not related to any existing test. Others have a test designed to rank beef tenderness, however it lacks accuracy. Tenet® focuses on the level of tenderness rather than using an equation to try to rank a range of toughness. More explanation is available at Tenetbeef.com.
Why become Tenet® Certified now?
Agricultural economists report that Tenet® certified tenderness guaranteed carcasses are worth $400.00 to $800.00 more than normal carcasses, (2). As the beef market lowers in the future, value added Tenet® carcasses will be important, desirable and valuable to the proactive Tenet® beef producers. Tenet® branded high-quality products are on the horizon. Value added, grass based, and the retained ownership segments of the beef and dairy beef crossbred industries will all benefit with Tenet® certification.
Start now to ensure your herd is fully integrated within two years. When you use Tenet® certified sires and retain certified heifers, you can ensure most of your herd will provide tender beef to the consumer. As long as you continue to use Tenet® certified sires, most of your herd will remain Tenet® certified.
Genomics and its operative use in the beef industry is in its infancy. Tenet® certification is set up to make a positive difference in the quality of American beef. Genomics should be part of USDA quality grading in the future.
Does Tenet® have anything to do with GMO?
Tenet® certification has nothing to do with GMO. Tenet® occurs naturally in all Bos taurus breeds of cattle including Wagyu. Tenet® is naturally occurring in all breeds and crossbreeds of cattle.
More questions?
Please go to tenetbeef.com.
Tenetbeef.com is the website for Tenet® certification
(1) USDA Beef Consumer Survey (1998-2022)
(2) Neighburg, S. Beef Information Day, seminar on beef tenderness. Washington State University 2011.
