Why is BRD such a problem in feedlots? The answer is stress—a lot of stress. Calves fresh from weaning are suddenly hauled, mixed with unfamiliar cattle, and placed in new environments. This combination of stressors weakens their immune systems and makes them more vulnerable to respiratory infections.
A mix of factors working together causes BRD:
- Environmental stressors: weaning, transport, commingling, crowding, and sudden diet changes.
- Host factors: calf age, immune status, and overall health.
- Pathogens: bacteria, viruses, and sometimes both.
Even on pasture, BRD can be a serious concern. Nearly 20% of cow/calf operations deal with nursing-calf pneumonia, which is the leading cause of death for calves three weeks and older. That’s why prevention matters—whether you’re managing hundreds of head in a feedlot or just a few pairs in the pasture.
Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD): The Basics
Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is one of the biggest health challenges in the cattle industry, especially in feedlots and stocker operations. It’s not just a “bad cold” in calves—it can hit hard, affecting animal welfare, slowing weight gains, and cutting into profits.
BRD can target:
- Lower respiratory tract (lungs), leading to pneumonia
- Upper respiratory tract, causing rhinitis or bronchitis
You might also hear it called “shipping fever” or “pneumonia.” Still, it’s really a disease complex—meaning it develops from several factors working together.
The BRD chain reaction usually looks like this:
- Stress (weaning, transport, commingling, or weather changes)
- Viral infections that weaken immunity
- Bacterial infections that take advantage of the calf’s lowered defenses
This combination is why BRD often strikes during the first four weeks after weaning. Calves are dealing with a new diet, a new environment, and new germs—all at once. That’s why early detection and prevention are critical.
Key risk factors include:
- Weaning stress
- Long transport times
- Overcrowding in pens
- Sudden weather shifts
- Mixing cattle from multiple sources
For producers, the stakes are high. BRD is a leading cause of death in calves over three weeks old, and recovery—even when successful—often means lost performance and higher treatment costs.
Bottom line? Keeping BRD under control requires a proactive approach, which involves monitoring cattle closely, reducing stress whenever possible, and implementing effective vaccination and management strategies before problems arise. Healthy calves aren’t just better for animal welfare—they’re better for your bottom line.
Impact of BRD
Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) isn’t just a health issue—it’s the leading cause of death in North American feedlots. This costly and frustrating problem is responsible for roughly 75% of all feedlot illnesses and 50–70% of feedlot deaths. For cattle producers, that’s more than just a statistic—it’s lost performance, higher vet bills, and a hit to the bottom line.
What makes BRD so dangerous is how quickly it strikes. The majority of deaths happen shortly after calves arrive at the feedlot—often within the first 45 days. In fact, data from the National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) shows that 91% of calves diagnosed with BRD get sick within the first 27 days of arrival. That’s a tiny window for intervention.
Why so soon?
- Weaning stress weakens the immune system.
- Transport stress from long hauls adds fatigue and exposure to new pathogens.
- Commingling with unfamiliar cattle introduces new germs.
This combination creates the perfect storm for BRD outbreaks right when calves should be settling in and growing.
For producers, the takeaway is clear—the first month after arrival is critical. Proactive steps like pre-conditioning calves before shipping, ensuring proper vaccination protocols, and minimizing stress during transport can dramatically reduce risk.
Early detection is also key—watch for coughing, nasal discharge, reduced feed intake, or calves hanging back from the group. Catching BRD early means a much better chance of saving the calf and protecting the rest of the pen.
In short: BRD is fast, aggressive, and costly—but with the proper management in place from day one, it’s not unbeatable.
How BRD Hurts Your Bottom Line
This study, conducted by the National Animal Health Monitoring System, reports that the direct cost of respiratory disease in feedlot cattle is $23.60 per case. This figure includes expenses related to veterinary care, medications, and other immediate treatments necessary to manage the disease in affected animals.
However, the financial burden extends far beyond the direct treatment costs. When scaled up to the entire feedlot industry, the total cost of treating respiratory disease reaches an estimated $54.12 million. This staggering amount highlights the widespread nature of BRD and the substantial resources required to address it on a large scale. Yet, these numbers only tell part of the story, as they primarily focus on the immediate expenses incurred during treatment.
What these figures do not account for are the broader economic losses associated with BRD, particularly those related to production losses due to morbidity and mortality. Cattle that suffer from respiratory disease often experience reduced growth rates, lower feed efficiency, and, in severe cases, death. These outcomes lead to significant losses in potential revenue, as affected animals may not reach their total market value. Consequently, the actual cost of BRD to the feedlot industry is likely much higher than the reported $54.12 million, making it a critical issue for cattle producers to address.
Spotting BRD Early: The D.A.R.T. Method
When it comes to diagnosing this disease, timing is crucial. The sooner you can diagnose, the sooner you can treat. A good acronym for diagnosing is D.A.R.T.
- Depression: A sick calf will have droopy ears and hold its head lower than usual. The calf may also move stiffly, with its tail slightly tucked.
- Appetite: At feeding time, watch carefully for animals that are slow to come to eat or have reduced appetite. These symptoms are one of those cases where knowing your calves’ normal behavior is essential. Some calves are naturally timid coming to the bunk, so use your best judgment.
- Respiration: Look for abnormal patterns such as exaggerated, heavy breathing, flared nostrils, and a soft, persistent cough
- Temperature: This is the only objective measurement in this system. A calf’s average temperature is around 102 degrees Fahrenheit. If it is running at a temperature above 104 degrees, it may be eligible for treatment.
Treating BRD: Best Practices That Work
When evaluating BRD treatment options, several key considerations can lead to more effective treatment outcomes.
- Ensure that your antibiotic covers the four bacterial pathogens that cause this disease. Talking with your veterinarian will help you determine if it is the correct type.
- The treatment should be proven to reach the lungs quickly and be effective for an extended period. Producers must visually observe that the calf has responded to the antibiotic and is showing signs of improvement.
- Good record-keeping is essential. Record keeping helps communicate the treatment status of animals working on the operation. Knowing the treatment status ensures proper withdrawal times are followed. It also helps to know which antibiotic was used previously in case a calf needs a second treatment.
- Working closely with a veterinarian is critical to the success of any protocol. If you are looking for ways to improve your treatment protocols, I discussed this in a previous post, ” How to develop outstanding treatment protocols.” A veterinarian can evaluate records and help make informed treatment decisions or changes.
Preventing BRD Before It Starts
A common saying you may have heard many times is that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” This line of thinking suggests that preventing the disease in the first place is cheaper than treating it. The phrase is an excellent strategy to follow when dealing with BRD. Here are four things that you can use to prevent this disease from happening in the first place.
- Reduce stress at all costs: Investing a bit more to ensure the receiving health of your cattle will pay dividends when it comes to BRD. Reducing stress begins with providing a clean environment with minimal overcrowding and dust. Provide sufficient bedding as well, so the animals can get much-needed rest.
- Provide good nutrition early and often: When it comes to nutrition, water is a critical first nutrient. After a long, stressful trip, providing cattle with clean water as quickly as possible will help them acclimate more quickly. Secondly, you want to provide a highly palatable, nutrient-dense feed. Providing the right micronutrients to maximize health and performance is also critical.
- Establish a vaccination program: Providing an excellent pre-emptive vaccine for your calves will go a long way toward preventing this disease from occurring in the first place.
- Use your tools wisely: Remember that cattle are animals of prey, which means that they will do everything they can not to avoid appearing sick or wounded. Having a skilled eye to spot any potential symptoms is very important. It can be between 3-5 days from when an animal begins to experience the symptoms to when those symptoms can be visibly detected.