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MEAT
GOAT QUALITY ASSURANCE THROUGH PROPER INJECTION SITES
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By: ROBERT SPENCER
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SMALL FARMS SPECIALIST
ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY
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The goat industry
is still in its “developmental” stage
and faces many challenges similar to those faced by
the cattle industry in the past. As a result of prior
food safety “incidents” concerns have
also been raised regarding quality assurance associated
with various types of meat. Although the meat goat
industry has not experienced such problems, it is
not impervious to the potential for similar incidents.
In an effort to assist and educate goat producers
on issues relevant to food safety and quality assurance
USDA’s FSIS has provided funding for Alabama
A&M University to implement a program that will
address such concerns. The university organizers of
this project have designed a program based on the
concept of early intervention through producer education.
This particular program is known as the Goat Quality
Assurance (GQA) program |
One aspect of food
quality assurance addresses the need to minimize the
potential for injection site defects. Cattle producer
organizations have experienced the same concerns and
implemented quality assurance efforts through the
Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) and similar programs.
In order to alleviate consumer concerns relevant to
quality assurance regarding injection site lesions
in goat meat Alabama A&M’s GQA project is
taking efforts to inform and educate goat produces
on preferable injection sites and practices. |
In order to insure
healthcare practices are correctly followed, the Food
Safety Education Program for Goat Producers at Alabama
A&M University recommends developing a working
relationship with a local veterinarian and always
consulting with them prior to administering any health
care practices. |
In the past both
cattle and goat producers gave most injections to
livestock in the rear leg, forward of the hip area.
Animal science experts and meat processors recognized
this as a prime area for various cuts of meat and
began recommending producers move the injection sites
to the neck area on cattle and near the rib cage,
behind the foreleg on goats. Now experts are recommending
goat producers give injections in the neck of the
goat, the same site as on cattle. |
The choice of injection
sites depends on what cuts of meat are seen as most
valuable to a goat producer. If one chooses the rib
cage behind the foreleg as injection site, they run
the risk of damaging meat that may be found on a rib
or two at that location. If they choose to inject
a goat in the neck, they run the risk of ruining an
area of potential meat that may be cut up and used
for stew meat. Prior to vaccinating or medicating
any goat, the goat producer must consult with his
processor and determine which cuts (a few ribs with
meat or meat on neck) are least valuable and the producers
can risk damaging via injections. |
The most preferred
method of giving injections whether it is goats or
cattle when it comes to administering medicines under
the skin (subcutaneous) is to use the “tent”
method (see diagram below). This method involves pulling
up the loose skin in the area of the injection site
and holding the syringe and needle parallel to the
body and pushing the needle through one layer of skin
and into the gathered area, then squirting the medicine
into the cavity. Ideally the animal will not struggle
and lessen the chance of sticking the animal in the
muscle of the rib area or neck where valuable meat
can be tainted or bruised. Worst case scenario is
to break the needle off into the meat area of the
animal and risk compromising the quality of future
meat when processed. |
As with any farming
venture producers must choose their options on minimizing
risk and how to lessen waste; goat production for
meat is no different. For that reason we are making
the following recommendations prior to administering
any and all injections in all livestock. |
To lessen injection
site defects, the injection site zone created for
cattle and goats was created. This triangular zone,
which is located in the animal's neck (see diagram),
begins slightly ahead of the shoulder, and is for
all injections: intramuscular (IM) and subcutaneous
(SubQ). To make it easier, imagine an intersection
resulting from a line drawn from the top of the neck
and to the bottom, then from in front of the shoulder
to where the head meets the neck.
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To insure the best
possible meat quality product, follow these guidelines: |
• Properly and safely restrain
animals.
• Clean the injection site of dirt, mud and
manure.
• Keep injection sites several inches apart
and switch sides frequently.
• Administer injections only in the triangle
zone.
• Never inject into the hindquarters.
• When given a choice of SubQ or IM, go SubQ.
• When administering SubQ injections, use
the "tented" technique.
• Always use new needles, never clean and
reuse.
• Syringes may be reuse by cleaning and washing
with soap, then rinse.
• Use only 18- or 20-ga. Needles (depending
upon the thickness of the medicine used).
• Use 1- to 1-1/4-in. needles for IM; 1/2-
to ¾-in. needles for SubQ.
• Keep a plentiful supply of needles for differing
applications.
• Never use bent, dull, damaged or contaminated
needles.
• Use separate syringes for each product;
mark syringes.
• Use only approved products.
• Follow product directions and withdrawal
timeframes.
• Don't use outdated products.
• Never combine vaccines.
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Information for
this article was inspired from an article written
by Joe Roybal and published in the weekly electronic
magazine “Cow Calf Weekly”. |
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