Farm Animal Welfare

Cattle BRD Antibiotic Stewardship Welfare

Reducing antibiotic use for bovine respiratory disease while maintaining welfare requires investment in prevention and early detection.

Key Facts

BRD accounts for the majority of antibiotic use in beef and dairy cattle globally
Metaphylaxis (preventive mass treatment) is used controversially on high-risk cattle arrivals
Individual early detection and treatment achieves similar outcomes to metaphylaxis with less antibiotic use
Vaccination against key BRD pathogens dramatically reduces disease incidence and antibiotic need
Good transition management, space and nutrition reduce BRD risk without antibiotics

Welfare Considerations

Reducing BRD antibiotic use without compromising welfare is achievable through investment in vaccination, early detection systems and management improvement. The dual welfare and stewardship benefits make this a priority area for integrated improvement programmes.

What You Can Do

Support integrated BRD management programmes combining vaccination, early detection and targeted treatment
Advocate for transition away from metaphylaxis toward individual detection and treatment protocols
Invest in BRD monitoring technology that enables earlier individual treatment