A. Blue O. U.S. Choice and Prime (7 CFR 54.121 through 54.127), mostly Yield Grades 2 and 3 ewe and wether lambs weighing 95-125 lbs. and estimated to dress 50% or better, hot weight. These lambs are thick-muscled and moderately wide through the back and loin. The legs are moderately thick and plump. These lambs have at least a moderate covering of finish over the back and loin and down over the ribs.

B. Blue O Bucks. Ram lambs meeting the requirements of the Blue O Lambs.

C. Blue Double O. U.S. High Choice and Prime, mostly Yield Grades 3 and 4 lambs meeting requirements of Blue O that weigh 126-150 lbs.

D. Red O. U.S. Choice, Yield Grades 2 and 3 ewe and wether lambs weighing 85-125 lbs. and estimated to dress 47% or better, hot weight. These lambs are slightly thick-muscled, and they are slightly wide through the back and loin. The legs are slightly thick and plump. These lambs have a moderately thin covering of finish over the back and loin and down over the ribs.

E. Red O Buck. Ram lambs meeting the requirements for the Red O Grade.

F. Red Double O. U.S. Choice, Yield Grades 3 and 4 lambs meeting requirements of Red O that weigh 126-150 lbs.

G. Triple O. U.S. Choice and Prime lambs weighing over 150 lbs. will be marked triple circle, whether Blue O or Red O, with the appropriate estimated dressing percentage.

H. Red Shoulder. U.S. Good and Choice, mostly Yield Grade 2 ewe, wether, and ram lambs weighing 75-90 lbs. and estimated to dress 44% or better, hot weight. These lambs usually are thinly muscled, and they are slightly narrow through the back and loin. The legs are usually slightly small and thin. These lambs have a thin finish over the back, loin, and down over the ribs.

I. Heavy Red Shoulder. U.S. Good and Choice, mostly Yield Grades 2 and 3 ewe, wether, and ram lambs weighing 90-125 lbs. which meet the requirements of Red Shoulder lambs.

Some factors affecting yield or dressing percentage for slaughter lambs which should be taken into consideration when grading are:

1. Finish - degree of finish

2. Fill

3. Length of wool

4. Rams

5. Wet fleece

6. Tags or mud

7. Long tails

8. Pregnant

A. Blue Shoulder. Choice and Fancy ewe and wether feeder lambs weighing 70-85 lbs. and meeting the slaughter requirements for Red Shoulder. These are healthy, thrifty, large-type lambs that have the potential to feed out to Blue O lambs.

B. Blue Back. Choice and Fancy ewe and wether feeder lambs weighing 60-70 lbs. These are healthy, thrifty lambs that have the potential to feed out to Blue O slaughter lambs. These may have slightly less finish than the Blue Shoulder.

C. Red Back. Choice and Fancy ewe, wether, and ram feeder lambs weighing 60 lbs. and up, and are less thrifty than the Blue Back lambs.

D. Blue Rump. Good and Choice ewe, wether, and ram feeder lambs weighing 50 lbs. and up. These lambs can vary in quality, thriftiness, and finish.

E. Red Rump. Mostly Good ewe, wether, and ram feeder lambs weighing less than 50 lbs. and varying in quality, thriftiness, and condition.