The first step to ordering Australian beef is to inform your supplier of the desired age and sex of the cattle that will be processed into your desired beef cuts. This specification is known as the category.

There are two options available when defining the category description. If you aren't too concerned about the age of the animal or the variability of meat quality, you can define beef by these basic categories:

Category (cipher)	Description
Beef (A) 0-8 Incisors Female or castrate entire male bovine that: •In males shows no evidence of secondary sexual characteristics (SSC) •Dentition range for this category is 0 to 8 permanent incisor teeth

Category (cipher)

Description

Bull (B) 0-8 Incisors Derived from entire or castrate male bovine animals showing signs of secondary sexual characteristics (SSC). SSC in bovine are defined by the following well developed aspects: •Muscles on the neck and shoulder •Inguinal canal and prominent erector muscle •Penis stub •Pubic tubercle Exposed area of M. semimembranosus muscle; triangular and relatively scarce scrotal fat and dark muscle color

However, if you are looking for meat that has been derived from animals of a certain age and therefore a lower variance in quality, you can define meat by alternative categories. You will notice that the criteria used to define alternative categories are more narrowly specified than the basic categories.

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BOVINE: Alternative Categories

Category (cipher)	Description
YEARLING STEER (YS) 0 Incisors Carcase is derived from castrate or entire male bovine that: •Has 0 permanent incisor teeth •Has no evidence of secondary sexual characteristics (SSC) Approximate Age: Up to 18 months

Category (cipher)	Description
YEARLING BEEF (Y) 0 Incisors Carcase is derived from female, castrate or entire male bovine that: •Has 0 permanent incisor teeth •Has no evidence of secondary sexual characteristics (SSC) Approximate Age: Up to 18 months

Category (cipher)	Description
YOUNG STEER (YGS) 0-2 Incisors Carcase is derived from castrate or entire male bovine that: •Has no more than 2 permanent incisor teeth •Has no evidence of secondary sexual characteristics (SSC) Approximate Age: Up to 30 months

Category (cipher)	Description
YOUNG BEEF (YG) 0-2 Incisors Carcase is derived from female, castrate or entire male bovine that: •Has 2 permanent incisor teeth •Has no evidence of secondary sexual characteristics (SSC) Approximate Age: Up to 30 months

Category (cipher)	Description
YOUNG PRIME BEEF (YP) 0-4 Incisors Carcase is derived from female, castrate or entire male bovine that: •Has no more than 4 permanent incisor teeth •Has no evidence of secondary sexual characteristics (SSC) Approximate Age: Up to 36 months

Category (cipher)	Description
PRIME STEER (PRS) 0-7 Incisors Carcase is derived from castrate or entire male bovine that: •Has 7 permanent incisor teeth •Has no evidence of secondary sexual characteristics (SSC) Approximate Age: Up to 42 months

Category (cipher)	Description
PRIME BEEF (PR) 0-7 Incisors Carcase is derived from female, castrate or entire male bovine that: •Has 7 permanent incisor teeth •Has no evidence of secondary sexual characteristics (SSC) Approximate Age: Up to 42 months

Category (cipher)	Description
OX (S) 0-7 Incisors Carcase is derived from female (only) bovine that: •Has no more than 7 permanent incisor teeth Approximate Age: Up to 42 months

Category (cipher)	Description
OX/STEER (S/SS) 0-8 Incisors Carcase is derived from castrate or entire male bovine that: •Has 8 permanent incisor teeth •Has no evidence of secondary sexual characteristics (SSC) Approximate Age: Any age

Category (cipher)	Description
COW (C) 0-8 Incisors Carcase is derived from female bovine that: •Has 8 permanent incisor teeth Approximate Age: All ages

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