Farm Animals

Cattle Respiratory Disease in Youngstock: Prevention and Early Treatment

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is the most economically significant disease of young cattle and a major welfare problem. Prevention through vaccination and management is more effective than treatment.

Key Facts

BRD accounts for over 70% of disease-related deaths in feedlot cattle
Clinical signs include depression, nasal discharge, cough, and elevated temperature
Viral pathogens (RSV, IBR, PI3, BVDV) predispose to secondary bacterial pneumonia
Stress from weaning, transport, and mixing dramatically increases BRD susceptibility
Visual assessment alone misses over 40% of cattle with lung lesions
Metaphylaxis (treating high-risk groups preventively) reduces outbreak severity in some settings

Welfare Considerations

BRD causes significant pain and distress - affected animals are depressed, breathe painfully, and have reduced appetite. Chronic lung damage from inadequately treated BRD affects the animal for life, reducing welfare and growth throughout the production cycle. The challenge of detecting subclinical pneumonia means many cases are caught late when treatment is less effective and suffering has already been prolonged.

What You Can Do

Vaccinate cattle against major respiratory pathogens appropriate to your system
Minimise stress through good weaning practices and mixing management
Train staff to score respiratory signs using the DART or Wisconsin scoring systems
Implement early treatment protocols with antibiotic therapy at first clinical signs
Consider lung ultrasound for subclinical BRD detection in high-risk groups