Healthy Herds: Preventing and Controlling Bovine Respiratory Disease

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) remains one of the most significant challenges to cattle health and farm profitability. Stress, viruses, and bacteria often combine to cause outbreaks, leading to production losses and animal welfare concerns. Proper vaccination, biosecurity, and nutrition reduce risk and keep herds thriving.

At The Vale Veterinary Group, our experienced team provides comprehensive farm animal services– including BCVA-trained BVDfree advisers and Johne’s veterinary advisers- helping cattle producers across the South West protect their herds from respiratory disease through evidence-based prevention and treatment strategies.

Understanding Bovine Respiratory Disease in Cattle

Respiratory disease remains the leading cause of illness and death in cattle herds worldwide. Understanding how BRD develops and spreads helps producers design prevention programmes that safeguard animal welfare and profitability.

What Is Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex?

Bovine respiratory disease complex refers to a multifactorial condition where viral infections, bacterial pathogens, environmental stressors, and management factors combine to damage the respiratory system. No single cause creates BRD, which is why prevention must address multiple risk factors at once.

The disease typically begins when stress weakens the immune system, allowing viral pathogens such as bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVD), infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR), or bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) to establish infection. These viruses damage the protective lining of the airways, paving the way for secondary bacterial infections caused by Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, or Histophilus somni.

Common clinical signs include:

  • Persistent coughing and laboured breathing
  • Nasal discharge, ranging from clear to thick and purulent
  • Elevated temperature, often above 40°C
  • Reduced appetite and weight loss
  • Depression and reluctance to move

Early detection dramatically improves outcomes. Our diagnostic services provide rapid identification of respiratory pathogens, allowing targeted treatment before disease spreads through the herd.

Environmental and Management Factors That Increase Risk

While pathogens cause the disease, environmental conditions and management practices determine whether BRD becomes an outbreak or remains an isolated case. Managing these factors reduces pressure and supports herd resilience.

Housing, Ventilation, and Stress Management

Poor air quality creates ideal conditions for respiratory disease. Housing and ventilation in cattle directly affect humidity, ammonia levels, and pathogen concentration. Inadequate airflow traps moisture and bacteria, while cold drafts and sudden temperature changes stress cattle and lower immunity.

Good ventilation ensures fresh air without chilling animals. Natural ventilation works well in many UK systems, but mechanically ventilated buildings require close monitoring to maintain four to six air changes per hour in calf housing, with humidity ideally below 80%.

Transportation also carries a high BRD risk. Preparing cattle for transport reduces stress-related immune suppression that makes animals more vulnerable. Vaccinate at least two weeks before movement, provide rest and hydration before loading, and avoid mixing animals from multiple sources where possible.

Weaning, weather changes, overcrowding, and abrupt feed transitions all increase stress and disease risk. Gradual changes and consistent management routines keep animals stable and better protected.

Our team at The Vale Veterinary Group’s Centres works with producers to review housing design and management protocols, identifying practical improvements that reduce respiratory disease pressure without major expense.

Vaccination Programmes and Herd Health Planning

Prevention through targeted vaccination remains the most effective and economical approach to controlling BRD. Well-designed programmes protect against the key viral and bacterial components before cattle encounter high-risk situations.

Building Effective Respiratory Disease Protection

A strong cattle respiratory vaccine programme addresses both viral and bacterial causes of BRD. Core vaccines typically protect against IBR, BVD, BRSV, and parainfluenza-3 virus (PI3). Modified-live virus (MLV) vaccines usually provide longer-lasting immunity than killed products, although killed vaccines are preferable for pregnant animals or naïve herds.

Timing is critical. Calves should receive initial vaccinations well before weaning, allowing time for a full immune response. Booster doses three to four weeks later strengthen immunity before high-stress events such as weaning, transport, or housing.

Developing a bovine respiratory disease plan requires understanding the herd’s specific challenges. Closed herds face different risks from those regularly purchasing replacements. Our cattle healthcare programmes provide tailored vaccination schedules aligned with your management calendar and local disease prevalence.

Vaccines targeting Mannheimia haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida can be added for high-risk groups. While they may not prevent infection entirely, they reduce severity and treatment requirements when BRD occurs.

Treatment Approaches for Affected Cattle

Despite the best prevention efforts, some animals will develop respiratory disease. Prompt recognition and appropriate treatment minimise suffering, prevent chronic lung damage, and limit spread.

Medical Interventions and Supportive Care

Early antibiotic therapy remains the cornerstone of treatment. Veterinary assessment identifies affected animals before disease becomes advanced and guides antibiotic selection based on likely pathogens and prior response history.

Our beef services and dairy services include rapid outbreak response, ensuring effective treatment protocols are implemented quickly.

Solutions for bovine respiratory disease range across antibiotic classes, each with specific withdrawal periods. Long-acting formulations reduce handling and stress, while severely affected cattle may require daily therapy and close monitoring.

Anti-inflammatory medication reduces fever and discomfort, encouraging feed intake and recovery. Hydration, nutritional support, and isolation of sick animals all improve outcomes. Chronic cases that fail to recover often sustain irreversible lung damage and may require culling. Post-mortem examination of deceased animals provides valuable feedback for refining herd health plans.

Economic Impact and Cost-Effective Management

Bovine respiratory disease causes significant financial losses through treatment costs, reduced growth rates, and increased mortality. Quantifying this impact reinforces the value of prevention.

Calculating the True Cost of Respiratory Disease

The economic impact of BRD extends well beyond treatment expenses. Recovered animals often have lower growth rates and poorer carcass quality due to permanent lung damage. Even mild or subclinical infections reduce feed efficiency and delay finishing times.

Preventive vaccination costs typically range between £5 and £15 per head, while treatment of clinical BRD can cost £30–100 or more when including drugs, labour, and performance losses. Preventing respiratory disease in calves through comprehensive herd health management costs a fraction of treating active outbreaks.

Proactive prevention improves welfare, reduces antibiotic use, and streamlines labour during busy periods- all strong returns on investment for long-term herd productivity.

Protecting Your Herd Through Partnership and Planning

Bovine respiratory disease is a complex, preventable challenge that requires strategy, vigilance, and teamwork. The right combination of vaccination, management, and early intervention protects both animal welfare and your bottom line.

At The Vale Veterinary Group, our BCVA-trained advisers and dedicated farm animal team support producers across Devon with herd health planning, vaccination design, and rapid response to disease outbreaks. Whether you manage beef or dairy cattle, we provide evidence-based solutions that fit your operation and budget.

To learn more about preventing BRD or to schedule a herd health review, visit our centres or reach out through your local Vale branch. Together, we can keep your herd healthy, resilient, and productive all year round.