Australian study identifies pre-feedlot risks for bovine respiratory disease

A large-scale study of over one million cattle in Australian feedlots has revealed that the primary predictors of death from bovine respiratory disease (BRD) are established before the animals arrive at the facility. Published in ‘Preventive Veterinary Medicine’, the research analyzed health and production records from 1,040,253 cattle across three feedlots between 2018 and 2024.

While overall mortality in these feedlots remained below 0.5%, BRD accounted for approximately 38% of all recorded deaths. The study found that cattle sourced from properties with a history of high BRD mortality were more than four times as likely to die from the disease than those from lower-risk properties. Additionally, cattle purchased through saleyards faced a higher risk of mortality compared to those sourced directly from paddocks, likely due to increased handling and transport stress.

The research, conducted by Adelaide University in partnership with Apiam Animal Health and Meat and Livestock Australia, noted that most BRD-related deaths occur early in the feeding period, with 69% occurring within the first 60 days and peak risk around day 35.