From his website
Nolan Ryan Beef is strictly a science-based program. We are not limited to any particular color or breed of beef cattle. Instead, we are looking for beef producers who do a great job of utilizing genetics that match their environment. When cattle perform well on the ranch, they will perform in the Nolan Ryan Beef program. If you are interested in making more money with your calf crop, collecting more carcass and performance data and eliminating market discrimination give us a call.
From another website
NOLAN RYAN'S ALL NATURAL TENDER AGED BEEF
BRAND NAME SPECIFICATION – MAY 2004
for certification by the
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
Livestock and Seed Program
Washington, D.C. 20250
SCOPE
This specification is for certification by an AMS agent of products marketed as Nolan Ryan's All Natural Tender Aged Beef (NRTAB) and Nolan Ryan's All Natural Aged Gourmet Beef.
APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS
Meat Grading and Certification Branch Instructions
NRTAB Inventory Control Procedure, April 2000
Official Beef Carcass Grade Standards, January 1997
Plant-Specific Standard Operational Procedures (SOP)
PROGRAM SPECIFICATIONS
1. GRADE RELATED REQUIREMENTS
These requirements are for certification by an AMS agent of U.S. Choice and Select steer and heifer beef carcasses which show no evidence in the ribeye muscle of: a) internal hemorrhages, b) bruising, c) "dark cutting" characteristics, and d) meet the following set of requirements:
1) Yield grade of 2.9 or numerically lower;
2) Quality grade:
a) Choice for Nolan Ryan's All Natural Aged Gourmet Beef,
b) Select for Nolan Ryan's All Natural Tender Aged Beef; and,
3) Lean color, texture, firmness, and skeletal characteristics of overall A maturity in the U.S. Choice and Select grades.
Items 1, 2, and 3 shall be determined in accordance with the Official United States Standards for Grades of Carcass Beef.
2. OTHER SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
1) All eligible carcasses shall be electrically stimulated prior to chilling. Electrical stimulation (ES) shall yield at least a 10% initial improvement in tenderness for stimulated versus non-stimulated carcasses (using the longissimus dorsi) as determined by Warner Bratzler (WBS) or Slice Shear Force (SSF) evaluations. The ES program shall continue to demonstrate a statistically significant improvement in shear force for stimulated versus non-stimulated carcasses and shall be validated at a proven frequency interval.
2) Eligible carcasses shall be chilled for at least 24 hours prior to evaluation.
3) Carcasses offered for USDA certification shall be evaluated using the SmartMV BeefCam (BeefCam) Version 1.6.2 or Version 1.6.5 for a) ribeye area (11.0 square inches (sq. in.) to 16.5 sq. in.) and b) a BeefCam score less than (0.0). BeefCam will provide USDA a method to assure the integrity of the technology (e.g., hardware and software) approved for the NRTAB program, and BeefCam will present any technology changes to USDA for approval and monitoring prior to implementation.
4) Product, except ground beef and trimmings, shall be aged for a minimum of 14 days from harvest prior to shipment to retail.
3. STATE OF REFRIGERATION: Fresh-chilled.
QUALITY ASSURANCE
Carcass Identification. Carcasses to be examined for compliance with the requirements of this specification shall be identified and segregated as prescribed in the plant specific Meat Grading and Certification Branch (MGCB) Quality plan procedures. A designated plant or NRTAB employee shall notify the AMS agent of the approximate slaughter time and lot identification of cattle intended for the program prior to their slaughter, and the time that carcasses shall be evaluated with the BeefCam prior to that evaluation.
Grade Related Requirements. Grade related requirements shall be determined by the AMS agent on an individual carcass basis.
Electrical Stimulation. The electrical stimulation process and any changes which the MGCB agent determines to be significant, must be approved by the Standardization Branch prior to implementation. The plant shall provide USDA with an SOP documenting the electrical stimulation process to be used and shall include, at a minimum, the following:
A trained plant or NRTAB employee shall observe the stimulation of all eligible cattle to assure that all carcasses are electrically stimulated as stipulated.
The AMS agent shall monitor the operation of the electrical stimulation system (e.g., remote video camera and monitor, observation, etc.) per the MGCB plant Quality plan.
The plant's SOP for the initial electrical stimulation evaluation, the subsequent statistically significant improvement in shear force for stimulated versus non-stimulated carcasses, and proven frequency interval required for validating electrical stimulation.
Training Employees. NRTAB shall train individuals responsible for program integrity. These individuals will be responsible for training and supervising plant employees who conduct carcass identification, electrical stimulation, ribeye presentation and preparation for the BeefCam, BeefCam operation, and other duties. A record designating each trained employee has completed the approved training, signed by the trainer and trainee and must be on file at the plant and available to the AMS agent at any time.
BeefCam and Ribeye Area. BeefCam and ribeye area readings shall be taken by a trained plant or a designated NRTAB employee. The AMS agent shall verify the accuracy of the BeefCam by either stationary rail or on line certification. Plant specific SOPs shall designate the method of certification as stationary or on-line.
Stationary Rail Certification using BeefCam, Version 1.6.2 or
On-line Certification using BeefCam, Version 1.6.5: (NOTE: The BeefCam, Version 1.6.5 is programmed so the camera does not operate unless the camera is properly calibrated.)
1. An AMS agent shall observe and verify the BeefCam's ribeye measurement is properly calibrated according to the manufacturer's recommended procedures at the beginning of each NRTAB certification period;
2. Randomly selecting a constant sample size of 5 carcasses from each lot;
3. Verifying for the 5 carcasses: (a) the BeefCam scores are less than 0.0, (b) the ribeye area is within the range of 11.0 to 16.5 square inches (+ or – ½ inch tolerance) by gridding the ribeyes, and (c) the BeefCam image of the ribeye to assure the longissimus was properly scanned;
4. Rejecting the entire lot offered for certification if any carcass does not meet the BeefCam requirement, the ribeye measurement, or the BeefCam image of the longissimus was not properly scanned;
5. Verifying that the number of carcasses certified is equal to or less than the number of carcasses on the BeefCam print out or the plant's inventory; and,
6. If necessary, a lot may be re-sorted/re-worked for re-certification one time only. (The same procedures and sample size listed above will be followed for re-certification).
Aging. Aging from the time of harvest shall be monitored under a modified Process Verified Program. The NRTAB procedure for monitoring inventory control is attached. AMS employees shall audit the inventory control system at least quarterly. Ground meats (and the raw materials) will not be aged nor labeled as Nolan Ryan Tender Aged Beef.
Nolan Ryan's Tender Aged Beef Monitoring. All program requirements identified in this specification will be monitored by AMS employees. Any requirement that is not being performed as specified will result in the suspension of certification until the program requirements are in compliance with the NRTAB specifications.
Nolan Ryan's Tender Aged Beef Responsibilities. The costs of all grading and certification services performed by the AMS agent involving examinations, supervision, official documentation, and related services shall be the responsibility of the person, group, or plant requesting the service. NRTAB representatives must notify the MGCB agent of any program changes prior to implementation. Changes, which the MGCB agent determines to be significant, must be approved by the Standardization Branch prior to implementation.
Labeling. Labeling of NRTAB products shall be in compliance with FSIS regulations and LS Policy SP2.
