Inject cattle in the neck

If you need to give cattle an intramuscular injection, always use the neck. This is a requirement from the meat industry, and your vet should be aware of it.

Use a clean, sharp needle every time, and check the label for the correct withholding period for the product. The goal is to avoid leaving behind residues or causing abscesses that could lead to meat being condemned.

Intramuscular injections go directly into the muscle. This is different from subcutaneous injections, where you lift the skin to form a tent and inject into the space underneath.

Why the neck, not the rear?

The rear end is often easier to reach. The muscles are large, and cattle tend to move their back ends less than their heads. But meat from this part of the animal is higher value. Any damage, such as an abscess or scar tissue, results in financial loss.

Neck meat is lower value and less likely to be sold as premium cuts. If there is an issue at the injection site, the meat can be trimmed out with less economic impact. That is why intramuscular injections should always be given in the neck, even if the animal is not yet destined for slaughter. All cattle eventually go to the works, so the rule applies across the board.

At the processing plant, injection site lesions (ISLs) are recorded on your killing sheet. These may appear as scarring or abscesses. In some cases, samples are sent for lab testing to confirm that residue levels have not been exceeded. Either way, the affected tissue is cut out and condemned.

Withholding periods are essential

Before giving any injection, read the label to find the withholding period. This is the number of days you must wait before sending the animal to slaughter. Different products have different timeframes, so do not assume they are the same. If the label is missing or unclear, check with your vet.

If you are new to keeping cattle or want to build confidence with treatments, our cattle course walks you through best practices for managing your animals. For detailed guidance on safe and effective techniques, have a look at our giving injections course.