Retrospective study of liver abscesses in beef cattle slaughtered in a Brazilian abattoir

Abstract

A retrospective survey was carried out in cattle slaughtered in a private abattoir in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil. The survey was based on the reports done by the Federal Inspection Service of the liver condemnations among 1,568,821 cattle (85% steers; 15% cows and heifers) from six different Brazilian states during 2002 and 2006. Feedlot cattle were mostly slaughtered in the last trimester of each year, while the cattle bred extensively were in the remaining months. The abscesses (1.60%) were the second highest cause of liver condemnation after telangiectasis (1.67%). The frequency of liver abscesses were higher in feedlot cattle (2.54%) than in cattle raised exclusively on pasture (1.28%), female (1.85%) than male (1.56%). Feedlot increased the outcome (odds ratio OD = 2.01x) of liver abscess. The highest frequency of liver abscess was detected in feedlot and extensive farming cattle system from the Parana state.