Farm Animals

Cattle Respiratory Disease Welfare Burden

Bovine respiratory disease is the leading cause of illness and death in beef cattle, with significant welfare and economic impacts.

Key Facts

BRD causes approximately 75 percent of all feedlot cattle illness
Multiple viruses and bacteria interact to cause disease in stressed cattle
Transport, mixing, and weaning are major stress triggers that predispose cattle to BRD
Early detection using behavior-monitoring technology reduces treatment lag
Metaphylaxis - treating all high-risk animals at entry - reduces outbreak severity

Welfare Considerations

Cattle with BRD experience fever, labored breathing, and significant malaise. Early treatment is critical but disease often progresses substantially before signs are noticed in large feedlots.

What You Can Do

Support cattle farms using technology-assisted early disease detection
Advocate for reduced transport stress through better infrastructure and journey limits
Choose beef from farms with documented respiratory health management programs