Vaccination programs against bovine respiratory disease pathogens substantially reduce disease incidence and associated welfare suffering in beef and dairy cattle, particularly at high-risk transition points.
Beef calves entering feedlots without adequate vaccination face high BRD risk during the stressful transition period when immune function is compromised. BRD causes fever, depression, and respiratory distress lasting days to weeks, representing significant welfare burden across millions of animals annually. Pre-arrival vaccination programs with appropriate antigen combinations substantially reduce this welfare burden while improving production outcomes. Supporting vaccine research and adoption through welfare standards and economic extension services accelerates the welfare benefit across the cattle industry.