Bovine Respiratory Disease - Welfare Management

Welfare-focused management of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) in beef and dairy calves, covering early detection, treatment, and prevention.

Key Facts

BRD is the most common and costly disease in beef calves, affecting 12-20% of feedlot animals
Subclinical BRD causes lung damage without obvious clinical signs, with welfare and performance consequences
Pen-level observation for early BRD signs including depression, nasal discharge, and laboured breathing enables prompt treatment
Metaphylaxis (mass antibiotic treatment at arrival) prevents BRD but must be balanced against stewardship concerns
Vaccination programmes for RSV, IBR, and Mannheimia haemolytica reduce BRD incidence by 30-50%

Welfare Considerations

BRD causes significant pain and respiratory distress that compromises quality of life for affected calves. Early detection is critical - animals that receive treatment within 24 hours of first signs recover more fully than those treated later. Prevention through vaccination, adequate colostrum, and stress reduction at weaning represents the strongest welfare approach.

What You Can Do

Implement daily pen observation protocols specifically targeting early BRD signs at high-risk periods
Ensure all replacement calves receive 4L of quality colostrum within 6 hours of birth
Develop a herd BRD treatment protocol with your vet including pull criteria and antibiotic selection
Vaccinate against major respiratory pathogens before weaning and housing stress events
Record BRD prevalence by pen, season, and source to identify patterns for future prevention