U.S. grades are based on nationally uniform standards of quality developed by AMS. These standards promote uniformity and assurance of product quality on a continuous basis regardless of supplier. The official USDA grade shield indicates the product's quality level.
Lamb Grades
The USDA grade shields are highly regarded as symbols of high-quality American lamb. Quality grades are widely used as a “language” within the lamb industry, making business transactions easier and providing a vital link to support rural America.
Prime lamb tends to be thickly muscled throughout and are moderately wide and thick in relation to their length. They have a Small amount of flank streaking and a slightly dark pink color on the inside flanks and ribeye. Most lamb is shipped to the east coast due to consumption demands of certain ethic groups
Choice lamb tends to be slickly thick muscled throughout and tends to be slightly wide and thick in relation to their length. They have at least a Traces amount of flank streaking and a moderately dark pink color on the inside flanks and ribeye. The majority of these are shipped to the east coast.