Determination of the age and cause of the bottom round blemishes identified in dairy steer rounds

Scope and Method of Study. Scars identified in bottom rounds of dairy steers is a major concern because of the decrease in tenderness and consumer acceptability. The objective of this study was to differentiate the regularity and severity of bottom round blemishes. Holstein calves (n = 30) were divided into three harvest groups. Within each harvest group half the calves were assigned to one of two treatments, bottom round injection (BRI) or control (CON). The BRI calves received an injection on the right side in the bottom round, and CON calves received the same adjuvant on the right side in the neck. The harvest groups were fed to preweaning, weaning, finishing stages. Carcass rounds were fabricated first to IMPS ;Findings and Conclusions. Visual identification of injection-site lesions was higher in cutlets from BRI cattle than CON cattle from harvest group one. There was no difference in identification of injection-site lesions for harvest group two or three. Treatment had no effect on WBS value within each harvest group. The WBS values were not affected by evidence of a visually identified injection-site lesion in cutlets from harvest group one, two, or three. Overall, BRI treatment does not have a significant impact on lesion presence or WBS values. Additionally, lesion presence does not have a significant impact on WBS values. Further investigation should be conducted utilizing calves from multiple farms and focusing on handling practices.