Infectious disease causes significant suffering in cattle, and proactive disease management through vaccination, biosecurity and early treatment is central to herd welfare.
Infectious disease causes acute and chronic suffering across cattle herds — BVD, IBR, Johnes, respiratory disease and mastitis collectively account for enormous volumes of animal suffering in UK herds. Disease prevention through vaccination, biosecurity, PI animal identification and culling is far more welfare-positive than treating established disease. Herd health planning that integrates disease surveillance and vaccination into routine management represents best practice for cattle welfare.