Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is the most costly disease in beef cattle, causing significant suffering if not promptly identified and treated with appropriate antimicrobials and anti-inflammatories.
Bovine respiratory disease causes significant pain and distress. Affected cattle experience fever, difficulty breathing, pleuritis, and the systemic effects of severe infection. Because cattle are stoic prey animals that hide signs of illness, BRD is often not identified until it is well advanced, extending the duration of suffering. Prompt, accurate diagnosis using clinical scoring systems and treatment with analgesics (NSAIDs) alongside antimicrobials is essential for welfare — treating infection without managing pain leaves significant suffering unaddressed. Prevention through vaccination programs, stress reduction during transport and processing, and appropriate preconditioning of calves before feedlot entry are the most effective welfare interventions.