Study Finds Liver Abscesses Cost U.S. Beef Feedlots $256 Million Annually

A new study published in the Journal of Animal Science estimates that liver abscesses in U.S. feedlot cattle cost the beef industry more than $250 million each year.

Researchers from EpiX Analytics used advanced economic modeling to measure the impact of this common but often overlooked health issue. They found that liver abscesses slow cattle growth, reduce meat yield, and increase losses during processing.

Key findings from the study include:

• Annual losses of ~$256 million
• Nearly double the cost if key preventative antibiotics were removed
• Losses vary by cattle type and region

The full study, “Economic Costs of Liver Abscesses in U.S. Beef Feedlot Cattle: A Comprehensive Economic Analysis,” is available open access in the Journal of Animal Science.

Read the full study