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 ab-normalities 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.
