Association of liver abnormalities with carcass grading performance and value

Abstract

The association of liver abnormalities with carcass grading performance, value, and dressed yield was evaluated on data from 76,191 carcasses housed in 2 databases. Liver abnormalities were assigned as follows: normal = edible liver; A- = 1 to 2 small abscesses or inactive scars; A = 1 to 2 large abscesses or multiple small abscesses; A+ = multiple large abscesses; A+AD = liver adhered to gastrointestinal tract or diaphragm or both; A+OP = open liver abscess; cirrhosis; distoma; and telangiectasis. Overall liver abnormality rates among both databases were A- = 5.0%, A = 2.6%, A+ = 2.0%, A+AD = 2.7%, A+OP = 1.4%, cirrhosis = 0.1%, distoma = 5.4%, and telangiectasis = 0.3%, with 80.5% of livers being normal. In database 1 (n = 3,936), BW was 33.3 kg less (P < 0.01) for carcasses with cirrhotic livers compared with carcasses with normal livers. Dressed yields for carcasses with A-, A+, A+AD, A+OP, and cirrhosis liver abnormalities were 0.28 to 0.89 percentage points less (P < 0.05) than carcasses with normal livers. In database 2 (n = 72,255), carcasses with A-, A+, A+AD, A+OP, cirrhosis, distoma, and telangiectasis liver abnormalities had reduced (P < 0.05) HCW and reduced (P < 0.05) LM area as compared with carcasses with a normal liver. Less (P < 0.05) 12th-rib subcutaneous fat was observed for carcasses with A-, A, A+, A+AD, A+OP, cirrhosis, and distoma abnormalities compared with carcasses with normal livers. Estimated KPH was less (P < 0.05) for carcasses with A-, A+, A+AD, A+OP, cirrhosis, and distoma abnormalities. Calculated yield grade was less (P < 0.05) for carcasses with A+AD, A+OP, cirrhosis, and distoma abnormalities compared with carcasses with normal livers. Marbling score of carcasses that had livers with A+AD or A+OP abscess scores or distoma was less (P < 0.05) than that of carcasses with normal livers. In database 2, market price per 45.35 kg did not differ (P = 0.32) among liver classification. Gross carcass value analyses indicated carcasses with A-, A, A+, A+AD, A+OP, cirrhosis, and distoma liver abnormalities were less valuable (P < 0.05) than carcasses with normal livers. These data delineate the association of liver abnormalities present at harvest with subsequent changes in carcass characteristics and ultimately lost carcass value.