How is your Beef Graded?
All our beef grading is based on marbling or intramuscular fat. This is the most important factor used to grade beef in the U.S. and around the world.
All Snake River Farms American Wagyu beef grades above USDA Prime. In order to represent the marbling present in our beef, we use the Japanese Beef Marbling Score or BMS. BMS measures marbling on a scale from 1 to 12 with a 2 representing USDA Choice and a 12 being the highest level of marbling possible. Snake River Farms American Wagyu grade sorting (Black Grade and Gold Grade) allows for some of the highest quality and most consistent eating experience in the world.
- SRF BLACK GRADE: Significantly more marbling than USDA Prime. Rated at 6 to 8 on the Japanese Beef Marbling Score (BMS).
- SRF GOLD GRADE: The highest marbled beef sold by Snake River Farms, rated at 9+ on the Japanese Beef Marbling Score (BMS).
BMS 2 to 3 USDA Choice
BMS 4 to 5 USDA Prime
BMS 6 to 8 SRF Black Grade
BMS 9+ SRF Gold Grade
- USDA Choice: Includes the majority of meat sold in grocery stores and butcher shops. USDA Choice has great flavor and tenderness. Steaks from this grade are above average and readily available.
- USDA Prime :Only about 4 to 5% of all beef graded in the U.S. has marbling to grade at this level. Most of these premium steaks are purchased by fancy steakhouses and restaurants. Prime beef has excellent flavor and tenderness.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has established eight beef quality grades, but only the two highest grades are sold on our website, that being USDA Choice and USDA Prime.
