WebXam Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources (AFNR) Practice Test 2025 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide

The ideal grade of meat carcass in terms of quality and taste is typically regarded as the Prime grade. Prime meat comes from young, well-fed cattle and is known for its abundant marbling, which refers to the intramuscular fat that contributes to flavor, tenderness, and overall eating experience.

While Choice is also a high-quality grade, it doesn’t reach the marbling and tenderness found in Prime. Choice meat has less marbling than Prime, but it is still well-regarded for its quality, making it common in restaurants and grocery stores. Select, on the other hand, is a leaner cut, and while it can be tasty, it generally lacks the rich flavor profile that comes from higher-fat content. Cut refers more to how the meat is prepared or portioned rather than a grading system.

Thus, while Choice is a strong contender for quality meat, Prime is widely acknowledged as the ideal standard against which other grades are measured, thanks to its richer flavor, tenderness, and overall quality.