Bovine respiratory disease is the leading cause of illness and death in feedlot cattle, causing significant suffering that is often detected late and undertreated in commercial operations.
Bovine respiratory disease causes substantial suffering in feedlot cattle, particularly during the high-stress transition period after weaning and transport. The combination of commingling, novel environments, dietary change, and immune suppression creates ideal conditions for respiratory infection. Detection is often delayed because cattle mask illness and pen-checking may be brief. When detected, treatment frequently omits analgesics, meaning sick cattle experience both respiratory distress and pain without relief. Improved monitoring technology, better pen-checking protocols, and routine analgesic use during treatment would substantially reduce this endemic welfare burden.