Animal Science, Department of
Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports
Citation
2025 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report, pages 56-58
University of Nebraska Extension, 2025
Abstract
Summary with Implications
A feedlot study was conducted to evaluate the effects of adding fenugreek extract and encapsulated lecithin (Furst-McNess Company, Rockford, Illinois, United States) on finishing cattle performance, carcass characteristics, and liver abscesses. Treatments were applied as a 2×2 factorial that included a control diet with no additive; a diet containing fenugreek extract; a diet containing encapsulated lecithin; and a diet containing both fenugreek extract and encapsulated lecithin. Tylosin was not included in any diets to test natural occurrence of liver abscesses. No interactions were observed between fenugreek extract and encapsulated lecithin treatments but neither feed additive impacted intakes, gains, feed conversion, or body weights. In addition, no impacts of dietary treatments were observed on carcass characteristics. Incidence and severity of liver abscesses was not different among treatments. Total abscess rate averaged 54% for the trial cattle, with 22.2% A+, 7.3% A, and 23.9% A-. These results indicate that feeding fenugreek extract or encapsulated lecithin will not impact performance or incidence of liver abscesses.
Included in
Large or Food Animal and Equine Medicine Commons, Meat Science Commons, Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Epidemiology, and Public Health Commons
Comments
Copyright 2025, Board of Regents, University of Nebraska. Used by permission