Farm Animals

Cattle Respiratory Disease and Welfare Prevention

Prevention and management of bovine respiratory disease, the most significant health and welfare issue in young cattle.

Key Facts

Bovine respiratory disease causes more deaths and economic losses than any other cattle disease
Stress of weaning, mixing, and transport significantly increases disease risk
Early identification using clinical scoring reduces antibiotic use and welfare impact
Vaccination protocols effectively reduce BRD incidence in high-risk groups
Housing ventilation and stocking density are critical environmental risk factors

Welfare Considerations

Bovine respiratory disease causes acute suffering that can be significantly reduced through stress minimisation, vaccination, and early detection programmes.

What You Can Do

Support farmers adopting BRD prevention and monitoring protocols
Advocate for welfare standards that require BRD risk assessment
Encourage veterinary involvement in BRD prevention planning on farms