Cattle Summer Respiratory Disease: Welfare in Housed and Feedlot Systems

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) complex continues to be the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in feedlot and housed cattle, with significant welfare implications and economic costs.

Key Facts

BRD accounts for approximately 80 percent of cattle deaths in feedlots
It is caused by a complex of viral pathogens including IBR, BVDV, PI3, and BRSV with bacterial superinfection
Stress from transport, mixing, and weaning is the primary trigger for BRD outbreaks
Early identification and treatment is critical, with mortality much lower when BRD is caught in its early stages
Metaphylaxis (mass antibiotic treatment on arrival) is common in high-risk cattle groups

Welfare Considerations

BRD causes acute and severe welfare harm. Affected cattle experience high fever, painful breathing from pneumonia, reduced feed intake, and profound weakness. Clinical disease typically progresses rapidly from initial depression to severe respiratory compromise, and untreated animals can die within days. Chronic BRD survivors often have permanent lung damage, causing ongoing respiratory compromise during exertion. The stress of transport and mixing that triggers BRD is itself a welfare event, and the cumulative welfare cost of transport stress followed by respiratory disease is severe. Daily observation protocols that identify early BRD allow prompt treatment that reduces severity and duration of suffering.

What You Can Do

Implement comprehensive BRD vaccination programs for all high-risk cattle groups
Follow good transport welfare practices that minimize stress as a BRD trigger
Establish daily observation protocols that identify sick animals early
Ensure veterinary-prescribed treatment protocols are followed promptly when BRD is suspected
Review housing ventilation and stocking density as risk factors for BRD
Support farm health programs that track BRD morbidity and mortality as welfare indicators