if its not certified its not the best
ABOUT
  • Blog
  • Brand the Barn
    • Our Ranchers
    • Sustainability
    • Who We Are
    • Why Certified Angus Beef ®
  • FAQ
  • Grades of Beef
  • News
  • Raised with Respect
FOR BUSINESS
  • Cattlemen Connection
  • Chef Inquiries
  • Dashboard
  • Find a Distributor
  • Foodservice Inquiries
  • Legal/Privacy Policy
  • Retailer Inquiries
  • The Culinary Center
CONNECT
  • Colvin Scholarship
  • Contact Us
  • For Students
  • Join Our Team
  • Newsletter Signup
  • Roast Perfect
  • Steakholder Rewards
COOKING
    • Cuts of Beef
    • Degree of Doneness
    • Grilling
    • Recipes & Videos
    • Roasting
  • Cooking Times
  • How-to Videos
  • Nutrition
SHOP
    • Licensee Brand Merch
    • Lifestyle Merch
    • Order Steaks Online
    • Restaurants Near Me
    • Retailers Near Me
  • Where to Buy
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
DOWNLOAD THE ROAST PERFECT APP
Apple App StoreApple App Store
Certified Angus Beef ® brand Logo
HEADQUARTERS
Certified Angus Beef
206 Riffel Rd.
Wooster, OH 44691
USA
Copyright 2025 © Certified Angus Beef All rights reserved. Any unauthorized use is strictly prohibited.

Cookie Policy

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing to use this site, you agree to the terms outlined within our privacy policy/terms of use.

Beef Tenderloin

Grades of Beef

All beef is inspected for wholesomeness by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and graded for quality and consistency.

You’ve heard of Prime, Choice and Select grades – and Prime tops the grading scale. Marbling plays a big role in quality grades.

Marbling – the little white flecks in beef – is key to flavor. The higher the amount of marbling, the higher the quality of beef. The Certified Angus Beef® brand is incredibly flavorful, tender and juicy because of the high amounts of marbling in every cut.

Q: How is beef graded?

A: Independent USDA graders inspect cattle and label them according to the grading scale: Prime, Choice, Select and several low-quality grades.

Retail Meat Counter Raw Beef

Q: How is beef selected for the Certified Angus Beef® brand?

A: The same independent USDA graders inspect black-hided cattle (typical of the Angus breed) and give it a grade. All beef considered for the brand must be the best Choice, or Prime, beef – truly the top of the scale. This top-quality Angus beef is then evaluated again, using the brand's set of 10 science-based specifications for marbling, size and uniformity. If it's good enough to make the cut, then it earns the distinctive Certified Angus Beef® brand label.

Prime Tomahawk Ribeye Steak

Q: What makes Certified Angus Beef® Prime the ultimate beef?

A: Quality, plain and simple. Only truly elite beef surpasses the USDA's stringent Prime standards, AND meets all 10 of the brand's quality specifications. Only 3% of beef achieves the high standards of Certified Angus Beef® Prime. And marbling is key to its incredible flavor and tenderness.

Prime Tomahawk Steak Grilled
Grass-Fed Header

Buy The Best Beef

The only beef certified for flavor, our beef is raised by families who care about their cattle, the environment, and your dining experience.

Where to Buy