FAQ - Certified Hereford Beef

Frequently Asked Questions

Certified Hereford Beef’s unique breed-specific program provides a competitive advantage over all other programs in the industry. Our program options consist of a full Premium and Choice product line that add value to your bottom line.

Every Hereford animal accepted into the program must meet 10 strict, science-based specifications. Certified Hereford Beef is recognized as an industry leader that delivers consistent product size, uniformity and an exceptional eating experience.

We also help strengthen your business by offering exceptional product quality, unwavering customer service, and curated marketing support, that helps you tell a compelling story to attract more customers. The cattle in our program are raised by 9,000 local American Hereford farmers and ranchers who uphold the brand’s rich history and natural efficiency — this story has strong connections to the local sourcing and sustainability that today’s socially conscious diners/consumers are looking for, which will help keep them coming back to your grocery store or restaurant time after time.

Certified Hereford Beef is a breed-specific premium branded beef program established in 1995. The brand is owned and maintained by 7,000 local Hereford farmers and ranchers of the American Hereford Association. It is a product of the USA that is registered, certified and graded by the USDA as Upper 2/3 USDA Choice beef and higher. To be accepted into the program, each Hereford animal must meet 10 strict, science-based live and carcass specifications. Certified Hereford Beef is recognized as an industry leader for consistent product size and uniformity and delivers an exceptional eating experience.

Angus beef is essentially a mass-market designation given to cattle who qualify for the 61 branded Black Angus beef programs certified by the USDA — that’s 70% of all the beef programs in America. Certified Hereford Beef is the only official brand of Hereford beef owned and raised by 7,000 local Hereford ranchers and farmers and also gives back to the local community. Let’s take a closer look at what makes our beef so special:

Breed Integrity
Unlike Black Angus beef, there is only one official brand of Hereford beef owned and raised by 7,000 local Hereford farmers and ranchers throughout the United States— Certified Hereford Beef. All the cattle in our program are raised by our local Hereford farmers and ranchers. That gives us greater control over the genetics of the Hereford cattle that go into the program as well as the high quality of the beef produced by it.

High Standards
The Certified Hereford Beef program holds cattle to high standards and specifications — each Hereford animal must meet 10 strict, science-based live and carcass specifications and is registered, certified and graded by the USDA as Upper 2/3 USDA Choice beef and higher.

Bolder Taste
The strict Certified Hereford Beef requirements for genetics and quality control are what give our products their bold taste. A 2019 comparative study by Kansas State University* confirmed that consumers preferred Certified Hereford Beef products for juiciness, tenderness, flavor and overall liking. A comprehensive 1991 cattle breed study by Colorado State University also showed that Certified Hereford Beef was superior in every category, including flavor and tenderness.

Natural Sustainability
The natural efficiency of cattle in the Certified Hereford Beef program also helps make them more sustainable than other cattle breeds such as Black Angus.**

*Kansas State University, Consumer evaluation of Certified Hereford Beef in comparison to USDA Choice, Prime, and Upper 2/3 Choice beef from black-hided cattle, April 2019

**Bedwell, S. (2017, August). The Efficiency Experts. Hereford.org. https://hereford.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/hereford_efficency_report.pdf

The cattle in the Certified Hereford Beef program are a naturally efficient breed that help sustain the land on which they are raised. Compared to other cattle breeds such as Black Angus, studies show that Hereford cattle eat significantly less feed per day — this conserves crops, water and other vital resources that today’s consumers are increasingly concerned about saving.**

**Bedwell, S. (2017, August). The Efficiency Experts. Hereford.org. https://hereford.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/hereford_efficency_report.pdf

Certified Hereford Beef is as healthy as it is delicious. Just one 3 oz. serving of Certified Hereford Beef contains only about 170 calories and is packed with 10 essential nutrients — including 25g of protein, iron, zinc and B vitamins. By focusing on our uncompromising quality standards, we ensure that Certified Hereford Beef provides these vital nutrients to keep your body and mind healthy, strong and running efficiently while delivering an exceptional eating experience with every bite. You can find more details about the health benefits of eating Certified Hereford Beef here.

Like most cattle in the United States, our cattle graze in local pastures on grass between 3 to 14 months. Our local farmers and ranchers then transition the cattle to a feedyard where they’re fed a balanced diet of grain and forages. This high-carb, grain-finished diet helps fatten our cattle, which produces a higher degree of marbling in the meat, which is what gives Certified Hereford Beef its distinctive, bold flavor and smooth, buttery texture.

Yes, every product in the Certified Hereford Beef program is certified, graded and inspected by the USDA for quality before being shipped to and enjoyed by the customers of our retail and foodservice partners.

You can shop for Certified Hereford Beef at grocery stores, restaurants or our online partners in the United States and internationally — just visit our Where to Buy page.

The Certified Hereford Beef Premium program is graded Upper 2/3 USDA Choice beef and higher. We also have a USDA Choice and higher program that adheres to the same strict brand specifications.

Certified Hereford Beef can help your business by offering exceptional product quality, unwavering customer service, and curated marketing support. Our marketing team works with our branded partners to help them tell the Certified Hereford Beef story to ensure their profitability and success. We provide the tools, education and resources to help our partners market and promote the brand, which increases consumer awareness of the qualities that make the Certified Hereford breed a superior brand. As a licensed Certified Hereford Beef partner, you’ll receive access to the following to support your sales and marketing efforts:

  • Our extensive library of marketing tools
  • Eye-catching point-of-sale and educational materials
  • Menu promotion
  • Photography
  • Social media graphics
  • Branded apparel

Yes, Certified Hereford Beef is currently exported to Central & South America and other destinations internationally — please visit the website of our export partner, Agri-Food & Feed, for more details at http://www.agrifoodandfeed.com/.

Our Humble Hereford Beginnings

The Certified Hereford Beef story is a Product of the U.S.A. and backed by American Hereford farm and ranch families working hard to raise a high-quality product.

Hereford Heritage

Upholding the Hereford Heritage

Meet the Hereford farmers and ranchers working hard to deliver a tender, juicy and delicious beef product to your table or meat case.

Meet Our Ranchers

Questions?

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Frequently Asked Questions