Farm Animals

Cattle BRD Prevention and Early Detection

Bovine respiratory disease is the most economically significant and welfare-impactful disease in beef cattle systems.

Key Facts

BRD affects up to 30% of cattle entering intensive beef systems and causes significant mortality
Clinical signs include nasal discharge, coughing, raised temperature and depression
Early identification and treatment within 24-48 hours of onset significantly improves outcomes
Metaphylactic antibiotic treatment of high-risk groups on entry reduces BRD incidence
Vaccination against Mannheimia haemolytica, IBR and BRSV reduces disease pressure in susceptible cattle

Welfare Considerations

BRD causes significant pain and distress including fever, difficulty breathing and weakness. Delayed identification and treatment prolongs suffering and reduces treatment success. Automated cough monitoring and temperature detection systems enable earlier detection than visual observation alone, representing an important welfare technology advance.

What You Can Do

Support cattle farm assurance schemes requiring BRD monitoring and treatment protocols
Advocate for routine use of validated pain scoring in BRD assessment and treatment
Learn about BRD prevention and treatment from AHDB Beef and Lamb resources
Choose beef products from farms with low antibiotic use as a welfare quality indicator