Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is the most economically significant and welfare-impactful disease in beef feedlot production, affecting up to 16% of cattle placed in feedlots.
Bovine respiratory disease causes substantial suffering to affected cattle. The disease involves inflammation of the lower respiratory tract, causing difficulty breathing, fever, and systemic illness. Cattle in feedlots experiencing BRD may stand with their head lowered, show labored breathing, and be unable to access feed and water effectively. Without prompt treatment, the condition progresses to severe pneumonia that is both more difficult to treat and more painful. The stress of weaning, transport, and introduction to feedlot environments directly suppresses immune function and creates conditions for BRD outbreaks. Prevention-focused approaches - preconditioning cattle before weaning, vaccination programs, and stress reduction during transport and processing - represent significant welfare improvements over reactive treatment of established disease.