Farm Animal Welfare

Cattle Respiratory Disease Welfare and Diagnosis

Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) is the most costly disease in beef cattle, causing significant pain and welfare suffering. Early diagnosis and treatment are critical to reducing mortality and improving outcomes.

Key Facts

BRD accounts for over 70% of illness and 40-50% of deaths in feedlot cattle
BRD causes fever, depression, painful inflammation of lung tissue, and difficulty breathing
Clinical scoring systems help identify affected cattle before severe disease develops
Delayed treatment significantly worsens prognosis and welfare outcomes
Viral components including IBR and BRD act as primary pathogens allowing secondary bacterial infection

Welfare Considerations

BRD causes significant pain through fever, difficulty breathing, and pleurisy. Cattle with BRD are in genuine respiratory distress that compromises all aspects of their welfare. Early identification using validated clinical scoring, prompt antibiotic treatment, and supportive care significantly reduces the duration and severity of suffering.

What You Can Do

Support training programmes for early BRD recognition in beef cattle
Advocate for mandatory treatment protocols in feedlot certification schemes
Choose beef from supply chains with demonstrated health management standards