– Jerad Jaborek, Michigan State University Extension
On the right, multiple large abscesses.
Liver abscesses increase costs with reduced efficiency of production and increased liver condemnation.
The United States beef industry has a renewed interest in trying to understand what causes the development of liver abscesses in cattle and their subsequent effect on the growth performance of cattle raised for beef. In a recent issue of the Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice journal, liver abscesses in cattle were reviewed. Liver abscesses are not a new problem for the beef industry and have been associated with feeding cattle primarily grain-based diets dating back to the 1930’s. Liver abscess prevalence rate varies considerably by region, presumably due to different feedstuffs fed, different feed management, and different cattle types (e.g., beef steers and heifers, beef x dairy steers and heifers, dairy steers, cull beef cows, cull dairy cows). Cattle livers containing abscesses are condemned at slaughter and represent an economic loss to the U.S. beef industry of approximately $61.2 million a year (25.5 million fed cattle, 30% liver abscess rate, $8 per liver), not including reduced carcass weight from the additional trimming required, reduced marbling deposition, and reduced feedlot performance. For many cattle producers, the effect of . . .
Continue reading: Industry concerns with liver abscesses in finishing cattle
For more information, also see: Liver Abscesses in Beef-on-Dairy Cattle are Costing Packers Big Money