Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, caused by bovine herpesvirus-1, is a significant respiratory and reproductive disease in cattle that causes substantial welfare harm and requires coordinated herd management for control.
IBR causes acute and significant respiratory welfare compromise characterised by high fever, nasal discharge, severe inflammation of the upper respiratory tract, and intense ocular discomfort from conjunctivitis. Affected cattle show the hallmarks of respiratory distress — reduced feed intake, lethargy, reluctance to move, and altered breathing patterns. The nasal ulceration associated with the respiratory form is painful and impairs normal sniffing and social investigation behaviour. Reactivation of latent infection following stress events — particularly mixing after purchase or transport — means that animals that appeared healthy can suddenly become acutely ill, complicating herd management. Effective vaccination programmes reduce clinical disease severity and virus shedding substantially. Eradication programmes that combine vaccination, testing, and removal of persistently infected animals represent the most comprehensive welfare and control approach available.