Eating quality or palatability depends on the flavor, juiciness and tenderness of beef products. Each of these three attributes can be enhanced through good production practices at the farm, as well as at the meat processing facility. Tenderness has commonly been identified as the most important contributor to palatability. Aging beef in temperature-controlled environments results in enhanced tenderness through the actions of natural enzymes which soften muscle fibers. Careful handling of the animal to minimize stress during transport and before stunning is also important. Selection of young cattle for beef production enhances tenderness as typically both the amount of connective tissue (collagen) and the resistance of collagen to breakdown during cooking increases as the animal becomes older. Canada’s A, AA, AAA, and Prime grades permit only beef from cattle classified as youthful.