Bovine respiratory disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in housed beef and dairy cattle, with significant welfare and economic costs that are largely preventable.
BRD causes significant suffering including fever, laboured breathing, pleurisy, and chronic lung damage in survivors. Animals that develop chronic respiratory disease following BRD experience reduced exercise capacity and quality of life throughout their productive lives. The condition is largely preventable through improved stress reduction at mixing, vaccination, ventilation design, and early recognition. Economic incentives and welfare incentives align strongly for BRD prevention.