Livestock

Bovine Respiratory Disease: 2025 Welfare Update

Updated 2025 welfare review of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) — the leading cause of morbidity in young cattle.

Key Facts

BRD is responsible for more cattle deaths and antibiotic use than any other disease in beef and dairy production
Calves and young growing cattle are most susceptible — particularly around weaning, mixing and transport
Multiple pathogens are involved including BRSV, BHV-1, PI3, BVD and Mannheimia haemolytica
Clinical signs include fever, nasal discharge, cough, depression and reduced feed intake
Subclinical BRD causes lung consolidation without obvious clinical signs — a significant hidden welfare burden
2025 research confirms that early treatment (within 24 hours of onset) significantly improves welfare outcomes
Metaphylactic antibiotic treatment of whole groups at high-risk entry is increasingly questioned on welfare and AMR grounds
Precision medicine approaches using individual animal monitoring improve early detection and targeted treatment

Welfare Significance

BRD causes acute and chronic suffering in millions of cattle annually. Early detection and prompt treatment are the most welfare-effective interventions. Growing use of individual animal monitoring technology is improving identification of subclinical cases that would previously have gone untreated, representing a significant welfare advance.

What You Can Do

Implement systematic respiratory health monitoring in calf and youngstock housing
Develop a herd health plan with your vet focused on BRD prevention
Train stockpeople in BRD scoring using validated respiratory scoring tools
Treat promptly within 24 hours of clinical signs — do not watch and wait