Bovine respiratory disease is the leading cause of illness and death in beef cattle, with vaccination and management programs preventing enormous welfare harm.
BRD causes significant suffering - fever, respiratory distress, coughing, and depression in affected cattle. Without treatment, it progresses to pneumonia and death. At feedlot scale, BRD management decisions affect millions of animals annually. Prevention through pre-conditioning, low-stress weaning, and vaccination is the highest welfare and antimicrobial stewardship approach. Early recognition and treatment of affected individuals is essential.