Bovine respiratory disease is the most costly and welfare-damaging illness in beef cattle, often triggered by the stress of weaning, transport, and feedlot entry.
Bovine respiratory disease causes significant suffering through fever, labored breathing, and rapid deterioration when untreated. The disease is largely preventable through vaccination, stress reduction during transport and mixing, and good nutrition. Early detection is challenging because cattle mask illness, but behavioral changes including reduced feed intake and social withdrawal are early indicators. The welfare cost of BRD - measured in individual suffering across millions of animals annually - makes prevention a major animal welfare priority in beef production.