Bovine Focal Hepatitis And Its Termination

Abstract

<p>The meat-packing industry has sustained a heavy loss for years because of the condemnation, upon federal inspection of bovine livers affected with telangiectasis and the so-called "sawdust" condition. Due to scientific advances, the monetary value and nutritional significance of the bovine liver have materially increased in recent years. The economic importance of the loss of this food product is apparent in the reports of the National Live Stock Loss Prevention Board. During the years 1941 to 1944, inclusive, a total of 910.962 beef livers were condemned for telangiectasis and 426,367 as "sawdust" livers by the federal meat inspectors. In 1944, a total of 12,411,374 cattle were slaughtered under federal inspection; from this number, 236,324 livers were condemned for telangiectasis and 117,871 for "sawdust" condition. When one considers that the average weight of the bovine liver is 10 to 12 lb., and the wholesale value is approximately 25 to 30 cents per pound, it is evident that the annual loss exceeds one million dollars.</p>