Farm Animal Welfare

Cattle Respiratory Disease Prevention and Welfare

Bovine respiratory disease is the most costly disease of beef cattle, causing significant suffering and requiring integrated prevention approaches.

Key Facts

BRD affects up to 20% of feedlot cattle and causes millions of deaths annually
Stress from weaning, transport, and mixing suppresses immune function
Metaphylaxis - preventive antibiotic treatment - is widely used but raises AMR concerns
Vaccination protocols significantly reduce BRD incidence when correctly timed
Early detection through automated monitoring reduces treatment delays

Welfare Considerations

Bovine respiratory disease causes fever, laboured breathing, and significant pain in affected cattle. The disease cascade - beginning with stress-induced immune suppression - means that welfare improvements in transport, weaning, and housing can prevent much BRD suffering. Early detection is critical to minimise the duration of untreated pain.

What You Can Do

Support integrated BRD prevention programmes in beef production
Advocate for reduced stress weaning and transport protocols
Learn about BRD signs to enable early detection on farms