Country World Archives 2001-2008
Injection-site management discussed at cow/calf clinic
By KRISTY HEMMINGSEN | Country World East Texas
May 10, 2001 -- Public perception plays a major role in the success of beef production. "The beef industry cannot afford for problems to be detected in beef, said Dr. Todd Thrift, Extension livestock specialist, at the recent Upper Sabine cow/calf clinic.
Injection-site management is one aspect linked to producing better quality beef. "Injection-site lesions should be a major concern for cattle producers, " stated Thrift.
He said injection-site lesions and abrasions do not pose a health risk, but consumers perceive them as health risk.
"When injection-site defects occur, meat processors must trim and discard the damaged tissue which greatly reduces the marketability and economic value of the round (cut of meat)," he explained.
Tenderness, he added, is also significantly reduced in an area that extends out at least three inches in all directions from an injection-site lesion. Therefore, a single site injection can affect tenderness of several retail portions.
So, how can producers apply injections in a way to reduce such occurrences and promote meat quality in the eyes of the consumer?
To demonstrate the answers to these questions Thrift, with the assistance of other Extension personnel, gave injections in different areas on a calf early in the day of the Upper Sabine cow/calf clinic.
Later that afternoon, the calf's carcass was brought back for Thrift to present a demonstration of the positive and negative effects each injection had incurred.
The number one area for applying shots, advised Thrift, is the neck area. He said a number of injections could be applied here and in different ways, yet, if the animal is given numerous injections at one time, he said to reserve the neck area for intramuscular (IM) shots only and use the elbow pocket area for subcutaneous (SubQ) shots.
But if the shots are to be very excessive, Thrift advised using alternatives treatments such as pour-on applications.
Other points noted by Thrift include:
- Determine target pathogens.
- Select the most effective vaccine.
- Prevent exposure of vaccine to heat and UV light.
- Use proper restraint when administering injections to cattle. (Improper restraint can cause broken needles and tissue damage).
- Draw from bottle with sterile needle. And protect needle from contamination. Change needle if it does become contaminated or damaged. Change frequently otherwise (10-12 head per needle) to ensure minimal tissue damage and lower risk of contamination.
- Injection sites should be free of manure and soil. Processing cattle in wet weather encourages contamination.
- Use needles no longer than necessary. Proper needle size will vary depending on product viscosity, size of animal and route of administration.
a)16-18 gauge 1/2- to 1-inch needles work well for SubQ injections.
b)16-18 gauge 1- to 1 1/2 inch needles work well for IM injections.
- Use quality syringes.
- Inspect and maintain all working components.
- Administer recommended route (IM or SubQ). All IM injections must be given in the neck, regardless of age.
- Avoid IM injections whenever other labeled routes of administration are available.
- Products approved for SubQ injections should be administered using the tenting technique, in the neck when possible, if not, it's acceptable to place in the elbow pocket.(Clasp the animal's hide between fingers and lift, then inject the product into the "tent.")
- Administer in recommended site (such as the neck region).
- Administer all injectable products in the neck or shoulder region of cattle, not in the round to prevent defects from occurring.
- Never exceed 10cc in any injection site. (If 24cc is recommended, use three 8cc injections instead of two 12cc injections.)
-If possible, do not place more than one SubQ injection on the same side of the neck to avoid interaction of products or severe tissue reaction.
-Properly space injections: a) 3 inches between injection sites on calves and yearlings; b) 4 inches between injection sites on cows and bulls
-Use SubQ, oral, IV, or topical administration of antibiotics, vaccines and parasiticides when possible.
- Change needles to reduce tissue irritation.
- Always follow label directions.
- Booster all vaccines when label requires it.
- Never mix products. Mixing products can cause unnecessary tissue damage and may reduce the efficiency of the products administered and extend the withdrawal period.
- Always ask suppliers to provide sufficient documentation that shows the injectable animal-health product does not cause tissue damage.
- Encourage biological and pharmaceutical manufacturers to provide tissue reaction information on all injectable animal health products.
- Develop a record keeping system. Show treated animals and the route of administration used, product used, product lot number and serial number.