Farm Animal Welfare

Cattle Respiratory Disease Welfare Prevention

Bovine respiratory disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in beef cattle; prevention through vaccination, management, and early detection is the primary welfare strategy.

Key Facts

Bovine respiratory disease causes more antibiotic use and economic loss than any other cattle condition
Stress from weaning, transport, and mixing increases susceptibility significantly
Vaccination protocols are effective but must be appropriately timed relative to stressors
Early detection using behaviour monitoring and automated systems enables faster treatment
Metaphylaxis - treating whole groups preventatively with antibiotics - raises resistance concerns and should be minimised

Welfare Considerations

Respiratory disease causes prolonged suffering in affected animals; preventative protocols that reduce stress and enable early detection improve both welfare and antibiotic stewardship.

What You Can Do

Advocate for stress reduction and vaccination as primary prevention strategies
Support early detection technology on farms to enable faster treatment
Reduce reliance on metaphylaxis through improved management rather than antibiotic dependence