Farm Animal Welfare

Cattle Respiratory Disease Recognition and Response

Bovine respiratory disease is the most costly welfare and production problem in beef and dairy young stock - early recognition prevents suffering.

Key Facts

BRD (bovine respiratory disease) causes more cattle deaths than any other condition
The clinical scoring system rates eye, ear, head, and nose signs to stage severity
Mortality rises dramatically when treatment is delayed beyond first clinical signs
Metaphylactic antibiotic treatment of high-risk calves reduces BRD incidence
Vaccination programmes significantly reduce severity of viral BRD pathogens

Welfare Considerations

BRD causes significant pain, distress, and growth retardation. Early recognition using clinical scoring, combined with prompt treatment, prevents prolonged suffering. Reducing BRD also reduces antibiotic use, benefiting wider public health.

What You Can Do

Advocate for BRD clinical scoring training in cattle stockperson education
Support vaccination programmes that reduce BRD incidence in young stock
Choose beef from farms with demonstrably low calf mortality rates