Producer- and Packer-Related Problems

(1) To relate the economic loss of parasite infestations in livestock.
(2) To show the impact of mishandling livestock on quality and quantity losses of their carcasses.
(3) To demonstrate antemortem procedures to correct losses that occur in livestock related to the producer or packer.

National Beef Quality Audit - 2000

Improvements in quality cannot be made if a benchmark is not available to see where and what the problems are and where the efforts on quality improvements can be made. This is the third such survey conducted, and they have had a major impact on our understanding of changes needed in the beef industry.

Producer-related problems:

Beef "measles" -- cysticercus bovis

Lamb "measles" -- cysticercus ovis

Pork "measles" -- cysticercus cellulosae

The condition is referred to as cysticercosis

Cost -- beef head ($20), beef carcass ($800)

Cause -- pasture management, dog or human feces

(2) Roundworm damage in pork livers

Ascarids Ascaris lumbricoides

Cost -- pork liver ($2)

Cause -- unsanitary housing conditions, fecal contamination

(3) Roundworm damage in sheep intestines

Nodular disease Oesophagostomum columbianum

Cost -- sheep intestines for sausage casings ($1)

Cause -- failure to "worm" sheep, unclean housing

(4) Grub damage in beef carcasses

Grubs -- larvae of the heel fly (ox warble)

Hypoderma lineatum

Hypoderma bovis

Cost -- hide damage and carcass trimming ($10)

Cause -- failure to "grub" cattle

(5) Liver abscesses in beef

Causative organism Corynebacterium pyogenes & Sperophorus necrophorus

Cost -- beef liver ($5)

Cause -- failure to prevent persistent rumenitis; prevented by feeding 15-20% roughage and antibiotics

(6) Flukes

Fasciola hepatica

 White snail is alternative host in grass. Heaviest infestation is Texas Gulf Coast (inland 50 miles)

 Cause -- failure to drench cattle

(7) Hide damage due to branding, mud/urine/insects

Hides are scarred due to hot-iron branding, mud and urine, and biting/sucking insects. Decreases quality of hides for luxury items such as automobile interiors and fine furniture.

 Solution: Move brands to "butt" region; provide for cleaner pens; treat with insecticides.

(8) Injection-site lesions

Caused by giving injections into top butt region of animal.

Incidence rate was 22% in mid- to late-1980's; now about 10%.

 Solution: Massive educational program led by National Cattlemen's Beef Association to inform producers about consequences of top butt injections. Now use "tent" method for administering vaccinations.

(9) Bruises

Packer-related problems:

(1) Heat prostration in swine

Cause: Swine have very inefficient processes for body heat transfer

Solution: Sprinklers in holding pens

(2) Suffocation in sheep

Cause: Sheep are easily frightened, very gregarious, will pile up and smother

Solution: Don't pen in small places

(3) Fiery fat, splotched muscle in beef

Cause: Short-term violent excitement ruptures capillaries in fat and muscle

Solution: Hold 1-2 days prior to slaughter

Review of Material -- What the student should know:

(2) That mishandling by man can cause significant losses in livestock and their meat.

(3) That simple animal husbandry practices can help prevent many product and economic losses.

Links to related sites on the Internet

Value-Based Marketing of Beef

National Beef Quality Audit -- 1995

National Beef Quality Audit -- 2000. Executive Summary in html.

National Beef Quality Audit -- 2000. Report in PDF.

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