Farm Animal Welfare

Cattle IBR Control and Welfare

Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR) is a herpesvirus causing significant respiratory and reproductive disease in cattle, with vaccination and biosecurity central to control.

Key Facts

IBR causes acute respiratory disease with fever, nasal discharge and ocular lesions
Latently infected animals shed virus during stress, maintaining infection in herds
Vaccination with marker vaccines allows distinction between vaccinated and infected animals
National IBR eradication programmes have succeeded in several European countries
Reactivation during transport and mixing explains many respiratory disease outbreaks

Welfare Considerations

IBR causes acute suffering through respiratory disease and eye inflammation, and reactivation during the stress of transport or mixing creates recurring welfare problems. The latent nature of the infection means that apparently healthy carriers can seed outbreaks in naive animals. Vaccination with marker vaccines, biosecurity for purchases and participating in national eradication programmes protect cattle welfare at herd and national level.

What You Can Do

Support national IBR control programmes in your country
Advocate for IBR vaccination and status monitoring in cattle purchase protocols
Choose beef and dairy from herds participating in IBR control programmes