Poorly ventilated cattle housing accumulates ammonia, pathogens, and moisture, causing respiratory disease that impairs welfare throughout the animal's life.
Bovine respiratory disease causes pain, difficulty breathing, lethargy, and in severe cases death. Chronic lower-level respiratory disease in housed cattle is widespread and contributes to welfare compromise across many beef and dairy units. Housing design that allows adequate natural ventilation — through appropriate ridge and eave opening sizing, building orientation to capture prevailing winds, and separation of airspaces between different-aged groups — significantly reduces BRD incidence. Investment in ventilation design pays welfare and economic dividends throughout the production cycle.