Farm Animals

Farmed Cattle Calf Respiratory Disease Welfare

Respiratory disease is the leading cause of illness and welfare loss in young calves, and prevention is more effective than treatment.

Key Facts

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) in calves causes fever, nasal discharge, and breathing difficulty
Stress at weaning, transport, and mixing significantly increases susceptibility
Colostrum quality and quantity affects calf immunity to respiratory disease
Adequate ventilation in calf housing reduces pathogen load
Vaccination against RSV, PI3, and IBR viruses reduces severity of respiratory outbreaks

Welfare Considerations

Calves with respiratory disease experience significant discomfort from fever, breathing difficulty, and depression. Early identification and treatment reduces severity and duration of suffering. Prevention through colostrum management, vaccination, and ventilation is more welfare-positive than reliance on treatment after disease develops.

What You Can Do

Support calf welfare standards requiring colostrum management protocols
Advocate for ventilation standards in calf housing welfare codes
Choose dairy and veal products from farms with documented calf health programmes