Nine management strategies to help reduce the impact of liver abscesses in beef-on-dairy cattle

Liver abscesses not only impact cattle health and well-being but can also cause significant financial losses for producers and beef packers. Implementing sound management and nutritional strategies from day one can help reduce their prevalence and mitigate negative effects on performance and profitability.

Understanding liver abscesses

The primary bacterium associated with liver abscesses is Fusobacterium necrophorum. Research by T.G. Nagaraja, DVM, at Kansas State University confirms that this bacterium is present in nearly all liver abscess cases, even alongside other pathogens. While F. necrophorum is part of the normal gut microbiota, its colonization depends on management practices.

In dairy operations, feeding large volumes of colostrum via esophageal tube feeders can leave residual colostrum in the forestomaches, creating an environment where F. necrophorum thrives. This may lead to subclinical rumenitis, which often goes unnoticed. Poor calf starter feed management can further increase gut permeability and predispose calves to liver abscesses.

Click here to continue reading