Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) is the most economically costly and welfare-significant disease in beef and dairy cattle, yet prevention remains inadequate in many systems.
BRD represents one of the most significant welfare failures in commercial beef production — a disease so prevalent it is often treated as inevitable rather than preventable. The stress cascade that causes BRD susceptibility — weaning, transport, and mixing — is not inevitable; it is a consequence of production practices optimized for price rather than welfare. Earlier weaning with pre-conditioning, reduced transport stress, and stable social groups throughout the feeding period reduce BRD incidence significantly. Combined with early detection through electronic monitoring and prompt treatment, welfare-focused BRD management achieves both better animal outcomes and better production economics.