Injection-site lesions: incidence, tissue histology, collagen concentration, and muscle tenderness in beef rounds

The national incidence and extent of injection-site lesions in the muscles of the round were determined via audits conducted at retail stores and in purveying establishments. Two additional experiments were conducted to examine the subsequent effects of pharmaceutical administration on tissue histology, soluble and insoluble collagen concentration, and muscle tenderness in beef bottom-rounds. Injection-site lesion incidence in beef round cuts audited at retail (n = 3,538) and in steak-cutting facilities (n = 15,464) was 8.45 and 10.04%, respectively, with an average lesion-trim of 314.7 and 191.59 g, respectively, in these two studies. Lesion classification revealed that 93.20 and 99.91% of lesions reported for the retail and purveyor audits, respectively, were chronologically aged lesions. Overall, 19,002 round cuts were examined, and injection-site lesion incidence (nationally) was 9.74%, whereas lesion-trim averaged 211.8 g. Warner-Bratzler shear measurements taken near lesions and in areas 7.62 cm from the lesions were higher (P < .001) for lesioned, than for control bottom-round steaks. Warner-Bratzler shear values for lesion cores were 3.5 times greater than those in paired control (non-affected) steaks. Concentrations of insoluble and soluble collagen were much higher (P < .001) at the site of the lesion center in lesion-afflicted vs control steaks. Histological determinations of the relative proportions of muscle, connective tissue and fat to a distance of 5.08 cm from the site of the lesion center confirmed that severe disruption of muscle tissue constituents and architecture had occurred. Injection-site lesions occur at an unacceptable frequency in the muscles of the round, and severe tissue changes accompany these lesions that can dramatically affect tenderness of those cuts.