Cow-Calf Certification Practice Exam

True or False: "Breaker" cows are often processed into wholesale cuts.

1. True

2. False

3. Only premium cows

4. Only cull cows

The correct answer is: True

The statement that "breaker" cows are often processed into wholesale cuts is true. In the beef industry, cows are classified based on their body condition and fatness, and "breaker" cows typically fall into the category of cows with lower quality and yield compared to "premium" or higher-grade cows. However, they are still utilized for meat production. Breaker cows may not provide the highest quality beef cuts, but their meat can be used for ground beef, processed products, and other wholesale cuts. These cows are often older and have less desirable carcass traits, which makes them suitable for processing into products rather than for premium cuts in retail markets. By contrast, the other classifications mentioned in the options refer to cows that typically do not have the same processing route. Premium cows are those that produce high-quality cuts, while cull cows, which may include cows that are no longer productive in a breeding context, fall under a similar processing route as breaker cows but are generally considered to be of variable quality. Understanding these classifications helps in the context of meat processing and marketing, highlighting the importance of cow categorization in determining their end-use.