IBR caused by bovine herpesvirus-1 is a significant cause of respiratory and reproductive disease in cattle with substantial welfare impacts requiring vaccine-based control programmes.
IBR causes severe welfare impacts from acute respiratory distress, painful conjunctivitis and significant abortion rates in susceptible herds. Reactivation during transport or housing stress causes animal-to-animal spread in housed herds. Welfare priorities include vaccination with marker vaccines enabling differentiation of vaccinated from infected animals, biosecurity on purchase of new cattle, and participation in national IBR control programmes.