Bovine Respiratory Disease and Prevention in Feedlots

Bovine respiratory disease is the leading health and welfare problem in beef cattle feedlots, causing millions of cases annually.

Key Facts

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) causes approximately 70 to 80% of all feedlot cattle illness and death losses
Newly arrived cattle are most susceptible during the stress and immune suppression of transport and feedlot entry
BRD causes fever, labored breathing, and lethargy — a painful condition that progresses rapidly without treatment
Early detection using automated health monitoring reduces BRD severity and treatment costs
Metaphylaxis — mass antibiotic treatment on arrival — prevents BRD but raises antimicrobial resistance concerns

Welfare Considerations

BRD causes significant and prolonged suffering in millions of feedlot cattle annually. Early detection and prompt treatment are the most impactful welfare interventions, as the disease progresses rapidly when missed. The trade-off between metaphylaxis welfare benefits and antimicrobial resistance harms requires system-level solutions including improved transport welfare and arrival health management.

What You Can Do

Support beef certification schemes that require BRD monitoring and early treatment protocols
Advocate for improved transport welfare standards to reduce immune suppression on feedlot arrival
Choose beef from systems with lower stocking densities and longer backgrounding periods that reduce BRD risk