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Influence of ceftiofur sodium biobullet administration on tenderness and tissue damage in beef round muscle

Department of Animal Science, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater 74078

¹ Correspondence: 104 Animal Science (phone: 405-744-6616; fax: 405-744-7390; e-mail: bmorgan{at}okstate.edu).

The effect of a biobullet (BB) containing freeze-dried ceftiofur sodium antibiotic on the presence of injection lesions, tissue damage, and histological properties, as well as Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF), of the biceps femoris was investigated. Steer calves (n = 25) were individually identified and assigned randomly to a product administration treatment date (7, 14, 21, 28, or 35 d before slaughter). At each pre-slaughter ceftiofur BB administration time, identified steers (n = 5) were humanely placed into a standard commercial restraining chute, where a BB implant was administered from a distance of 6.09 m. Following a standard finishing period (120 d), steers were transported to a commercial beef processing and humanely slaughtered. Following a 36-h postmortem chilling (1°C) period, carcasses were graded and fabricated according to industry-accepted procedures. Paired muscle samples were individually identified, collected, and aged for 14 d postmortem. Muscles were dissected into 1.27-cm strips, followed by observation and palpation for the presence of injection site lesions. Preslaughter administration times of 7 and 14 d resulted in the presence of injection lesions (80 and 20%, respectively). In addition to the control samples, no muscle damage was observed in cattle treated with BB implants 21, 28, or 35 d before slaughter. Warner-Bratzler shear force measurements taken near lesions of BB steaks and in areas 5.08 cm from lesions of control steaks tended to be higher (P < 0.10) than for other BB and control sample locations. Concentrations of insoluble and soluble collagen were higher (P < 0.05) at the site of the lesion center in lesion-afflicted vs. with control steaks. Histological determinations of the relative proportions of muscle, connective tissue, and fat were altered (P < 0.05) in BB lesion-afflicted steak cores; however, these differences were negated outside the core location of BB-treated and control steaks. It seems that using the ceftiofur BB implant system within 14 d of slaughter does create injection site lesions and increase WBSF; however, when the BB implant system, containing 100 mg of freeze-dried ceftiofur sodium, was used according to the recommended procedure ( 30 d preslaughter), tissue damage, alterations in histological and collagen properties, and increased meat toughness were not observed.

Key Words: Beef • Incidence • Injection • Lesions • Tenderness