Vaccination programs for common cattle respiratory viruses are an important tool for preventing welfare-harmful disease outbreaks in beef and dairy herds.
Respiratory virus vaccination is a welfare tool that prevents significant suffering in cattle by reducing the incidence and severity of respiratory disease. Effective vaccination programs tailored to the specific pathogens in a herd and timed appropriately around stressful management events provide meaningful protection. Pre-conditioning - vaccinating, weaning, and adapting cattle to feedlot feeding before sale - represents a more welfare-conscious approach to cattle marketing that reduces the disease surge typically seen in newly arrived feedlot cattle.