Liver abscesses are a common welfare consequence of high-grain feedlot diets, causing pain and contributing to reduced performance and wellbeing.
The high prevalence of liver abscesses in feedlot cattle represents a chronic welfare problem hidden beneath the skin. Abscesses cause localized pain, inflammatory mediator release, and reduced wellbeing even when cattle appear clinically normal. The condition is a direct consequence of feeding management choices. Slower grain adaptation, appropriate roughage provision, and reduced reliance on antibiotic metaphylaxis are welfare-positive approaches that also reduce antimicrobial use. Slaughter-line monitoring provides welfare feedback that pen-side observation cannot.