Bovine respiratory disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in feedlot cattle and a major source of welfare harm that better management can significantly reduce.
Bovine respiratory disease welfare represents a preventable suffering burden on millions of cattle annually. The stress of transport, mixing, and feedlot entry suppresses immune function and creates conditions where viral and bacterial pathogens cause pneumonia that, without treatment, causes acute respiratory distress, fever, and painful breathing. Early detection and prompt treatment prevents this suffering from becoming severe and chronic. Prevention through vaccination and low-stress management is both welfare-positive and economically rational — preventing disease is cheaper than treating it.