Livestock

Bovine Respiratory Disease in Calves: Welfare and Prevention

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is the most costly disease in the UK cattle industry and causes significant suffering in young calves, with prevention through management and vaccination saving both welfare and money.

Key Facts

BRD costs the UK cattle industry over 80 million pounds annually
Responsible for over 20% of calf deaths in beef production
Multifactorial, involving viral and bacterial pathogens plus management stress
Risk factors include mixing, poor ventilation, weaning stress, and overcrowding
Early treatment is critical as delayed cases have higher mortality and welfare cost

Welfare Considerations

Calves with BRD experience respiratory distress, fever, lethargy, and pain. Recovery is prolonged and lung damage may be permanent, compromising lifetime welfare and productivity. Prevention through adequate colostrum, good ventilation, minimising mixing stress, and targeted vaccination is far superior to treatment-only approaches.

What You Can Do

Implement colostrum protocols ensuring all calves receive adequate volume within 2 hours
Ensure adequate fresh air ventilation without draughts in calf housing
Discuss vaccination protocols with your vet
Monitor calves daily using BRD scoring systems
Treat early: any calf with two or more BRD signs should be assessed and treated promptly