Farm Animals

Cattle Respiratory Disease Prevention

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is the leading cause of illness and death in beef cattle, causing significant welfare impacts and economic losses.

Key Facts

BRD accounts for approximately 75% of feedlot illness
Stress from weaning, transport, and mixing increases susceptibility
Viral and bacterial pathogens interact to cause disease
Early detection and treatment improve outcomes significantly
Metaphylactic antibiotic use is controversial but widespread

Welfare Considerations

BRD causes substantial suffering including fever, laboured breathing, and pain. Animals often mask illness until severely affected. Systematic monitoring, vaccination, and reducing stress events at transition are essential welfare interventions.

What You Can Do

Support producers using comprehensive BRD prevention programmes
Advocate for better animal health monitoring in beef production
Choose beef from farms with low antibiotic use and good health records