Study Suggests New Ways to Prevent Costly Cattle Disease
Breakthrough for Modeling for genomic, blood & microbiological markers for liver abscesses in fed beef cattle
Liver abscesses are a costly problem for cattle and producers. This research determined that liver abscesses in beef-on-dairy crossbred cows are linked to changes in the rumen, the largest compartment of a cow’s stomach, not inherited traits. The study suggests that breeding is unlikely to reduce abscesses, while management practices that improve rumen health may help. Blood tests also predicted abscesses with 80% accuracy, offering opportunities for earlier detection and prevention. The findings could improve animal welfare and benefit beef producers’ bottom lines.