Tackling Liver Abscesses in Feedlot Cattle: How Texas A&M Research Is Guiding Smarter Antibiotic Use
Tackling Liver Abscesses in Feedlot Cattle: How Texas A&M Research Is Guiding Smarter Antibiotic Use
As consumer demand for beef hits historic highs, feedlot operators are increasingly focused on anything that affects cattle health, performance, and carcass value, including liver abscesses, a long-standing and costly challenge in feedlot cattle.
Researchers from Texas A&M’s Veterinary, Education, Research and Outreach (VERO) initiative in Canyon teamed up with the cattle feeding industry to study how tylosin, a commonly used feed antibiotic, can be managed to reduce liver abscess risk while supporting responsible antibiotic use. Their work also explored whether shorter feeding durationscould still provide meaningful protection.
“Rather than prescribing a single solution, these findings provide producers, veterinarians, and nutritionists with clearer information to help weigh management decisions that affect animal health, operational efficiency, and long-term sustainability,” said Dr. Paul Morley, director of research for Texas A&M’s VERO initiative and principal investigator of the study.
The Cost of Liver Abscesses
Liver abscesses remain a persistent issue for the cattle feeding industry, with economic impacts estimated at approximately $257 million annually in the U.S. Beyond packer discounts, affected cattle often gain weight less efficiently, making prevention both a health and welfare concern.
“There’s evidence that cattle with abscesses don’t perform as well,” Morley said. “So, this is both a health and welfare issue.”
Key Findings on Tylosin Feeding
The study demonstrated that cattle fed tylosin throughout the finishing period had the lowest overall risk of liver abscesses. Reduced-duration feeding still lowered risk compared to not feeding tylosin at all, though not as effectively as continuous feeding.
“If producers stop use in the last 10% to 15% of the feeding period, it represents a significant portion of the total antibiotic use,” Morley explained. “That timing helps producers better understand how adjustments in feeding strategies affect both antibiotic use and liver abscess risk.”
Collaboration Is Key
Morley emphasized that this project was built through extensive industry collaboration, reflecting the complexity of real-world cattle feeding challenges.
“This was truly an industry partnership that produced an industry-driven answer,” he said. “It exemplifies how research at public universities is supposed to work. The scientists involved were not limited to academic — this was a multidisciplinary collaboration across the cattle industry, bringing together researchers from five universities, production scientists and veterinarians from private companies, and partners from the pharmaceutical sector.”
The research was funded by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, conducted with support from a commercial feedlot, and incorporated additional industry data to ensure relevance for practical production systems.
“Consumer beef demand is at a 40-year high, which shows producers are taking many of the correct steps to produce a beef product consumers desire,” said Ben Weinheimer, TCFA President & CEO. “Having science-backed information helps cattle feeders make decisions that move the industry forward. It also allows them to continue producing the highest-quality, safest beef for consumers — not just here in the U.S. but across the globe.”
Looking Ahead
While the study provides clarity on how tylosin feeding duration influences liver abscess risk, Morley noted that questions remain about why liver abscesses develop and exactly how antibiotics reduce risk. Future research aims to explore strategies that minimize antibiotic use while still protecting cattle health and performance.
For now, this work underscores the value of science-based, industry-driven research in addressing complex challenges, giving producers the data they need to make informed decisions in a rapidly evolving beef production landscape.
