Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is the most economically significant disease in cattle and a major source of welfare suffering. Prevention-focused approaches serve both animal welfare and industry sustainability.
BRD causes significant individual animal suffering in the form of fever, painful respiratory infection, and reduced capacity to breathe and eat. Cattle with untreated or undertreated BRD experience chronic welfare compromise before recovery or death. Early identification — possible through monitoring of behavioral indicators and temperature screening — reduces the duration of individual suffering and improves treatment outcomes. Prevention-focused management that reduces the immunosuppressive stress cascade of weaning, transport, and commingling serves both welfare and economics. The antibiotic stewardship challenge in BRD management is real: reducing metaphylactic use requires investment in alternative prevention strategies including vaccination, preconditioning, and stress reduction that are welfare-positive independently of their antibiotic implications.