Bovine respiratory disease complex is the leading cause of illness and death in feedlot cattle. Prevention and rapid treatment are essential to reduce the enormous welfare burden this condition creates.
Bovine respiratory disease causes substantial suffering through fever, respiratory distress, lethargy, and reduced appetite. Animals that develop severe pneumonia experience prolonged illness lasting days to weeks before either recovery or death. The concentration of susceptible animals from multiple sources in the high-stress feedlot entry period creates ideal conditions for pathogen spread. Reducing disease burden requires attention to transport welfare, acclimation periods, nutritional support, and rapid identification and treatment of sick individuals. Prophylactic antibiotic approaches address the problem but create antimicrobial resistance concerns, making prevention through better management the preferred long-term solution.