Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is the most common and economically significant disease of feedlot cattle, causing significant suffering and high mortality. Evidence-based prevention reduces both welfare cost and production losses.
BRD causes significant suffering — fever, labored breathing, reduced appetite, and lethargy in acute cases, and chronic lung damage in animals that survive inadequately treated episodes. The scale of BRD in feedlot systems reflects management practices that are known to predispose cattle to respiratory disease: long-distance transport, overnight fasting, mixed-sourcing from multiple farms, and immediate exposure to high stocking densities. Prevention-focused management — reduced transit stress, appropriate metaphylaxis, electronic health monitoring, and early treatment — dramatically reduces both the incidence and severity of BRD. Investment in prevention saves both lives and welfare.