Farmed Animals

Farmed Cattle Respiratory Disease and Welfare

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is the most costly and prevalent disease in beef cattle, causing significant suffering and economic loss in feedlot systems worldwide.

Key Facts

BRD accounts for over 75% of feedlot illness and 50% of deaths
Stress from transport and commingling triggers most BRD outbreaks
Early detection reduces suffering and improves treatment success rates
Mass antibiotic prophylaxis raises antimicrobial resistance concerns
Better housing ventilation and lower stocking densities reduce BRD incidence

Welfare Considerations

Cattle with respiratory disease experience fever, labored breathing, depression, and significant pain. Many cases go undetected until disease is advanced due to prey species tendency to hide illness. Improved monitoring technology, lower stress handling, and better barn design can dramatically reduce BRD prevalence and associated suffering.

What You Can Do

Support producers who use lower-stress handling and reduced stocking densities
Advocate for animal health monitoring technology in farming regulations
Choose beef from producers with transparent animal health records
Support research into vaccines and alternatives to prophylactic antibiotics