NEW RECOMMENDATIONS for injection site locations in cattle are intended to prevent unsightly lesions showing up in 15 to 20 percent of certain retail beef cuts. The lesions are thought to be nothing new, just made more evident by new cutting and packaging techniques.

Cattlemen Urged To Administer
Injections In New Site Zone

Beef producers are being asked to administer injections into a tightened injection site zone in an animal’s neck. This new injection site zone is a hand’s width in front of the shoulder and several inches shorter than the previous zone.

The step to tighten the old injection site zone is a Beef Quality Assurance issue, as the beef industry wants to reduce the number of greenish lesions showing up in beef cases where retailers use modified-atmosphere packaging.

"We’re finding a 15 to 20 percent incidence of greenish lesions in chuck steaks where modified-atmosphere packaging is being used," states Dee Griffin, D.V.M., University of Nebraska and member of National Cattlemen’s Beef Association BQA Task Force.

"These greenish lesions are not likely new. We just didn’t see them before modified-atmosphere packaging — a combination of 80 percent oxygen and 20 percent carbon dioxide used to prolong bloom — came to the retailer case. Also coming into play is the practice of retailers now using part of the chuck for steaks.

"Put these two factors together and we have a problem. This 15 to 20 percent incidence of greenish lesions is a concern and must be reduced."

Griffin stresses that current research indicates no particular product or formulation is responsible for the greenish lesions. Calling the greenish lesions "an industry challenge," Griffin says the percentage of lesions can be reduced when producers administer vaccinations in the tightened injection site zone.

"Our work shows that one chuck muscle plays a major role in the problem," Griffin states. "By tightening the injection site zone, this particular muscle is avoided, and incidence of lesions can be significantly reduced.

"The greenish lesions are a management problem. Although there are various unknowns, we do know that giving products sub-Q when possible, tightening the old injection site zone and administering intramuscular injections at least a hand’s width ahead of the shoulder will be a big step in addressing the problem."

To keep administration of products at least three inches apart, producers are also asked to administer vaccinations in both sides of an animal’s neck.