Protocols: what to do with meat while CWD test is pending?

[CMF]

No sure about that. The spinal cord is inside the vertebrae right? I'm not cutting through the spinal cord or any bones. I am cutting the meat away from the spinal processess.. Enlighten me?

Yea, I'm not seeing any spinal fluid while cutting out backstraps...

When do you freeze/wet age, at what stage of processing, etc?

I would start eating it immediately, but since you mention wet aging... I've had good results wet aging deer and elk up to 30days(vac sealed in the fridge). I've done it to tenderize it, but also because we had limited freezer room in our camper for a couple of weeks we were on the road.

 

[grfox92]

I could be wrong......

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There is nothing to enlighten. To quote myself, I could be wrong. Maybe I am. I have no idea where exactly spinal fluid is and isn't.

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[HairyScandinavian]

There is nothing to enlighten. To quote myself, I could be wrong. Maybe I am. I have no idea where exactly spinal fluid is and isn't.

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It can't just leak out into muscle tissues, it's contained unless there's damage from bullets or knives and such.

 

[ReaptheHeat]

It seems likely that processing with a professional increases the risk of cross contamination with CWD positive meat. I don't think that is a guarantee, but your post brings up a good point. There is likely more CWD exposure to humans than positive animal cases suggest.

I wouldn't say it's an increased risk. I would say it's a guarantee based on how prions are actually destroyed.

 

[grfox92]

It can't just leak out into muscle tissues, it's contained unless there's damage from bullets or knives and such.

So spinal fluid is contained 100% inside the spinal column? Its not in sacs, veins or tendon like structures running along the entire spinal area? its not present in between vertebrae in pockets? Genuine question.

Edit, to be even more clear, there is no chance of cutting or puncturing something that contains spinal fluid when carving out a backstrap?

 

[High Climber]

Only time I get into spinal fluid is when I pop the head off of the last vertebrae with my knife

 

[S.Clancy]

Pretty sure head and backstraps should be last. I could be wrong but Im pretty sure your getting spinal fluid all over the backstraps when you carve them out.

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If you're getting spinal fluid cutting out back straps something went seriously wrong

 

[HairyScandinavian]

So spinal fluid is contained 100% inside the spinal column? Its not in sacs, veins or tendon like structures running along the entire spinal area? its not present in between vertebrae in pockets? Genuine question.

Edit, to be even more clear, there is no chance of cutting or puncturing something that contains spinal fluid when carving out a backstrap?

I'm not a surgeon but as a layman I believe it's contained, no reason for it to be in sacks or veins or anything outside of the spine. I would think you'd have to cut between the vertebrae to release the fluids, or obviously bullet or bone shrapnel can damage it and cause a leak. The lymph node system can obviously accumulate the prions though as that's actually what they collect to test I think so there's obviously other tissues that can contain the prions and not just spinal fluid.