Liver Abscesses Pose Hidden Economic Losses for Cattle Producers

By Andi Anderson

Liver abscesses in cattle often go unnoticed until after slaughter but cause major hidden losses for producers. These abscesses are pus-filled infections caused mainly by bacteria like Fusarium necrophorum and Trueperella pyogenes.

Though their exact cause is unclear, they are linked to low-pH, high-grain diets with insufficient roughage.

At beef processing plants, any liver with an abscess is condemned, leading to an estimated $256 million annual loss to the U.S. beef industry. This includes $26.4 million in liver condemnations, $45.9 million from other offal losses, and $11.6 million due to slower processing speeds.

Producers may not see direct discounts for liver abscesses, but hidden costs affect them. Trimming of abscess-damaged carcasses reduces hot carcass weight, cutting saleable beef—an estimated $35.1 million annual loss. These losses are often hidden because liver abscess data isn’t usually reported back to producers.

Feedlot performance also suffers. Severe liver abscesses reduce average daily gain (ADG) by about 5.3%, costing around $80.6 million annually. Studies show cattle with severe abscesses require about 4% more energy for maintenance, as their bodies fight infection, reducing growth and carcass value.

Liver abscesses impact carcass composition by lowering fat and muscle growth, reducing dressing percentage, and lowering marbling or quality grades. This results in further losses of $46.3 million from lower dressing percentages and $9.6 million from reduced USDA quality grades.

Overall, if cattle are sold on a live basis, producers absorb 31% of the economic loss due to severe liver abscesses. If sold on a dressed basis, that figure jumps to 67%. The beef processor’s share of the loss from condemned products and processing delays is about 33%.

Liver abscesses remain a costly challenge in cattle production, highlighting the need for better prevention and management strategies to protect both cattle health and farm profits.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-ahavelaar