Farm Animal Welfare

Cattle Welfare and Respiratory Disease Prevention

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is the most economically and welfare-significant disease in cattle. Prevention through vaccination, management, and housing significantly reduces suffering.

Key Facts

BRD affects up to 30% of beef cattle and causes significant mortality and suffering
Shipping fever following transport is a major BRD trigger due to stress-mediated immunosuppression
Respiratory vaccines provide significant protection when appropriately timed
Ventilation, stocking density, and stress management reduce BRD incidence
Early detection and treatment reduces severity and prevents chronic disease

Welfare Considerations

BRD causes severe respiratory suffering and is a leading cause of cattle mortality. Prevention-first approaches through vaccination, housing, and management reduce the enormous welfare burden of this disease.

What You Can Do

Support farms with comprehensive BRD prevention programmes
Choose beef and dairy products from farms with low respiratory disease records
Advocate for BRD vaccination and monitoring as standard farm welfare practice
Learn about bovine respiratory disease causes, prevention, and welfare implications