Farm Animal Welfare

Cattle Liver Abscess in Feedlots

Liver abscesses are common in feedlot cattle fed high-concentrate diets, causing chronic pain and welfare compromise throughout the finishing period.

Key Facts

Liver abscesses affect 12-32% of feedlot cattle in some US studies
Caused by bacteria entering the bloodstream from acidotic rumen lining damage
Low-dose antibiotic supplementation has been the standard prevention but raises AMR concerns
Modified diets with slower adaptation to concentrate feeding reduce abscess rates
Abscesses cause chronic pain and reduce feed intake, growth, and welfare

Welfare Considerations

Liver abscesses represent chronic, preventable suffering in feedlot cattle. Dietary management to prevent rumen acidosis - the root cause - is more welfare-aligned than relying on antibiotic supplementation to manage the consequences of unsuitable diets.

What You Can Do

Support beef producers using welfare-positive, lower-concentrate finishing diets
Advocate for antibiotic reduction in feedlot management through dietary prevention
Choose beef from grass-finished or welfare-certified systems where possible