Evaluation of Different Hair Characteristics and the Impact of Liver Abscess Presence on Stress-Related Physical and Physiological Parameters Associated with Well-Being in Beef Feedlot Steers

The study aimed to assess the impact of hair characteristics and liver abscess presence on stress-related parameters in beef feedlot steers. In Experiment 1, involving 19 steers, older steers showed higher hair cortisol concentrations than younger ones, with white-haired older steers having the highest levels. Hair cortisol was weakly correlated with hair length but not growth duration. Experiment 2, with 363 cattle, found no significant relationship between liver abscess presence and stress indicators like ocular temperature and cortisol levels. The study concluded that liver abscesses did not affect stress-related outcomes under the conditions tested, and further research was recommended to explore cattle welfare factors and establish benchmark values for hair cortisol concentration.