Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is the most costly disease in beef and dairy production and a major source of animal suffering. Prevention through welfare improvements reduces both disease burden and antibiotic dependence.
BRD causes significant suffering: affected cattle show labored breathing, fever, reduced appetite, and lethargy that in untreated cases progresses to lung consolidation and death. Early detection and prompt treatment reduce the duration of suffering but require attentive monitoring. Prevention through welfare improvements — reducing transport stress, minimizing mixing of unknown-source cattle, providing adequate shelter on arrival, and vaccinating — addresses the root causes rather than managing consequences. Sourcing cattle from known, single-source operations is among the most effective BRD prevention strategies available, with welfare and antibiotic stewardship benefits aligned with producer economic interests.