Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is the most costly and common disease in young cattle. Prevention through vaccination, housing, and nutrition reduces suffering significantly.
BRD causes significant suffering through fever, dyspnoea, and lethargy in affected calves. Untreated cases progress to pleurisy and permanent lung damage affecting lifetime welfare and productivity. The compounding of multiple stressors at weaning and transport creates predictable welfare crises that could be substantially reduced through better management sequencing. Treatment compliance with appropriate pain relief alongside antibiotics is improving but remains inconsistent.