Farm Animals

Cattle Welfare: Pre-Weaning Respiratory Disease

Bovine respiratory disease in pre-weaned dairy calves is a major source of suffering and mortality, with prevention through colostrum management, housing, and vaccination.

Key Facts

BRD is the leading cause of illness and death in pre-weaned dairy calves globally
Adequate colostrum intake in the first 6 hours of life is the most protective welfare intervention
Individual calf housing reduces pathogen transmission but social isolation has welfare costs
Effective vaccination programmes require appropriate timing and product selection

Welfare Considerations

Pre-weaning BRD causes significant suffering for affected calves, with respiratory distress and systemic illness often lasting days before resolution or death. The welfare cost is preventable through proactive management of colostrum, housing, and health monitoring that enables early treatment.

What You Can Do

Support dairy producers implementing systematic pre-weaning calf health monitoring
Advocate for colostrum management standards to be a core welfare requirement in calf raising
Engage with veterinary practice on effective respiratory disease prevention protocols for dairy calves