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Vaccination System Helps Verify if BQA Guidelines Are Followed, Prevents Accidental Double Injections Injection site blemishes are a problem that has plagued cattle producers for years. According to the National Market Cow and Bull Beef Quality Audit of 1999, $1.46 was lost to lesions from injections on each cow harvested, costing the industry more than $9 million. A 1995 audit showed $3.43 lost per head on fed steers and heifers, adding another $97 million in losses. The blemish problem is especially prevalent in the hindquarters, which become the round in processing. The round is economically important because, even from cows, it's commonly processed and marketed as a whole muscle product, not as ground beef. When injection site defects occur there, processor must trim and discard the damaged tissue, greatly reducing the marketability and economic value of the round. Education has helped with the problem. "When the injection site audit started and the educational program came out, the incidence in fed steer and heifer top sirloin butts was over 21 percent. We've seen a big improvement in the last 10 years," says Deb Roeber, research associate at Colorado State University. That number today is 14.7 percent in fed steer and heifer rounds, according to a steak audit conducted by CSU. Her blemishes are also a concern with cows and bulls, or non-fed cattle. In beef cows, NCBA data reveals a 29 percent incidence in beef cows and 58 percent in dairy cows. The lesions that are not found through normal fabrication procedures may be discovered by consumers, which can cause a whole different set of problems with customer satisfaction. An injection site lesion also causes a loss of tenderness in an area that extends out at least three inches in all directions. Beef Quality Assurance guidelines suggest as the first step to avoiding these troubles, administering injections in the neck and shoulder rather than the hindquarters. "That helps to get them out of the high value cuts packers use for a lot of different things," Roeber says. To make sure employees follow BQA guidelines, the new, VAC-MARC Vaccination Systems, from VAC-PAC, Inc. offer a means of verification, by automatically marking the animal near the injection site simultaneous to giving the injection. "From a management standpoint, where they have several employees, it's a good way for management to tell if they're all following the quality assurance guidelines," Roeber says. Other suggested measures include always selecting proper needle size. Bent, contaminated or dull needles should never be used, and needles should be changed frequently. "You won't tear as much tissue if it goes in cleaner and comes out cleaner," Roeber says. At a recent meeting of livestock veterinarians, a change every 5 to 10 head was suggested. Injection site blemishes in pork have plagued hog producers for years. "It's obviously a serious problem," says Dr. John Forrest, professor of animal sciences at Purdue University. "Depending on the situation, sometimes it warrants tanking of the animal, or removal of part. "It's an issue for several reasons. "Occasionally you get an abscess," Forrest says. "The problem is sometimes they're difficult to detect until they're on the cut floor. Then they have to stop the whole line and clean it up immediately. The cost is astronomical because they've got labor standing there doing nothing." But the problem may not end at the packing house. It's even worse if it goes undetected and somebody cuts into it at the table. The economic loss is probably less than the potential loss from turning off a consumer somewhere, according to industry experts. Quality assurance programs have helped to eliminate poor injection habits by educating producers on better practices, including proper injection sites. VAC-MARC offers additional benefits. "For an overseer it would be valuable in a large operation to prevent double injection," Forrest says. With the system, there is no question whether the vaccine was administered or not. Clean needles remain critical in the prevention of blemishes, as does changing needles often. The VAC-PAC, which is a part of the VAC-MARC System, conveniently stores up to 10 extra needles for a quick and easy change to a clean, sharp needle. The VAC-MARC System also contains the Needle Disposal unit for quick and safe needle disposal. |
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