Livestock and Poultry Carcass Grading Regulations (SOR/92-541)

58. (1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), a poultry carcass of the grade Canada Utility shall meet the requirements set out in subsections 3(16) to (18) and the following standards:

• (a) the carcass is not missing more than

  • (i) the wings,

  • (ii) one leg including the thigh or both drumsticks,

  • (iii) the tail,

  • (iv) small areas of flesh, and

  • (v) skin not exceeding an area equivalent to one half of the area of the breast;

• (b) where no flesh has been removed, the carcass breast has sufficient fullness of flesh on both sides of the keel bone to prevent a sharp falling away of flesh from the anterior to the posterior end and the keel bone does not project more than 3 mm beyond the flesh;

• (c) the carcass has at least a minimum fat cover to prevent the flesh from appearing prominently through the skin;

• (d) the carcass has no prominent discolourations exceeding

  • (i) an area of 6.5 cm² in the aggregate on the breast, and

  • (ii) an area of 8 cm² in the aggregate elsewhere on the carcass;

• (e) the carcass has no dislocated bones other than in the wings or legs; and

• (f) the carcass has no broken bones.

(2) A poultry carcass may not be graded Canada Utility if

• (a) the wings or any part of them has been removed elsewhere than at a joint; and

• (b) only a part of the drumsticks has been removed.

(3) A poultry carcass may not be graded Canada Utility if it meets the standards for the grade Canada A.

(4) Notwithstanding subsection (1), mature chicken may be graded Canada Utility if the carcass

• (a) weighs less than 1.8 kg;

• (b) meets the standards set out in paragraphs 59(1)(b) and (c); and

• (c) is trimmed in accordance with paragraph (1)(a).

59. (1) Subject to subsection (2), a poultry carcass of the grade Canada C shall meet the requirements set out in subsections 3(16) to (18) and the following standards:

• (a) the poultry carcass is the carcass of a mature chicken;

• (b) the carcass breast has sufficient fullness of flesh on both sides of the keel bone to prevent an extremely sharp falling away of flesh from the anterior to the posterior end and the keel bone does not project more than 5 mm beyond the flesh; and

• (c) the carcass has no prominent discolourations exceeding an area of 14.5 cm² in the aggregate.

(2) Mature chicken may not be graded Canada C if the carcass meets the standards for the grade Canada A or the grade Canada Utility.