# Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex

> Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex (BRD, Shipping fever, Pneumonic pasteurellosis) is a respiratory condition of cattle. Key signs are fever (>40 °c), depression, anorexia and cough; diagnosis rests on Clinical signs + history and Nasopharyngeal or transtracheal wash for culture and PCR. Good if treated within 24 h of onset; mortality rises with delay.

Source: https://vetmasterji.com/diseases/bovine-respiratory-disease · Last reviewed: 2026-10-01

## At a glance

- **Species:** Cattle
- **Body system:** Respiratory
- **Also known as:** BRD, Shipping fever, Pneumonic pasteurellosis

## Key clinical signs

- Fever (>40 °C)
- Depression, anorexia
- Cough
- Mucopurulent nasal discharge
- Tachypnoea / dyspnoea
- Auscultation: crackles, wheezes, increased lung sounds cranio-ventrally

## Other signs

- Drooped ears
- Reduced rumination
- Dehydration
- Sudden death in peracute Mannheimia / Histophilus cases

## Differential diagnoses

- Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR/BHV-1)
- Bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD)
- Bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV)
- Lungworm (Dictyocaulus viviparus)
- Aspiration pneumonia
- Acute interstitial pneumonia (3-methylindole)

## Diagnosis

- Clinical signs + history (recent transport, mixing, weaning)
- Nasopharyngeal or transtracheal wash for culture and PCR (Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, Histophilus somni, Mycoplasma bovis)
- Thoracic ultrasound (consolidation cranio-ventral lobes)
- CBC: neutrophilia with left shift

## Treatment outline

Early antibiotic therapy is critical. First-line: ceftiofur, florfenicol, oxytetracycline, tilmicosin, or enrofloxacin (label use only — extra-label fluoroquinolone use in food animals is FDA-prohibited in many jurisdictions). NSAID (flunixin or meloxicam) reduces pyrexia and inflammation. Adequate ventilation, dry bedding, and reduced stress. Metaphylaxis on arrival for high-risk cattle is widely used.

- [Enrofloxacin — doses and monograph](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/enrofloxacin)
- [Ceftiofur — doses and monograph](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/ceftiofur)
- [Oxytetracycline — doses and monograph](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/oxytetracycline)
- [Meloxicam — doses and monograph](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/meloxicam)
- [Flunixin Meglumine — doses and monograph](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/flunixin)
- [Tilmicosin — doses and monograph](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/tilmicosin)
- [Florfenicol — doses and monograph](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/florfenicol)

> An outline, not a prescription. Check each drug’s dose for the species, the patient and the product in the drug calculator before use.

## Prognosis

Good if treated within 24 h of onset; mortality rises with delay. Chronic BRD survivors may have permanent lung damage and reduced performance.

## Related

- [Rank differentials from clinical signs](https://vetmasterji.com/diagnose)
- [Bovine Mastitis](https://vetmasterji.com/diseases/bovine-mastitis)
- [Foot-and-Mouth Disease](https://vetmasterji.com/diseases/foot-and-mouth-disease)
- [Bovine Ruminal Tympany (Bloat)](https://vetmasterji.com/diseases/bovine-ruminal-tympany)

## Frequently asked questions

### What are the signs of bovine respiratory disease complex in cattle?

Fever (>40 °c), depression, anorexia, cough, mucopurulent nasal discharge, tachypnoea / dyspnoea and auscultation: crackles, wheezes, increased lung sounds cranio-ventrally. Less specific signs include drooped ears, reduced rumination and dehydration.

### How is bovine respiratory disease complex diagnosed?

Clinical signs + history (recent transport, mixing, weaning), Nasopharyngeal or transtracheal wash for culture and PCR (Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, Histophilus somni, Mycoplasma bovis), Thoracic ultrasound (consolidation cranio-ventral lobes) and CBC: neutrophilia with left shift. Differentials to rule out include infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (ibr/bhv-1), bovine viral diarrhoea (bvd), bovine respiratory syncytial virus (brsv) and lungworm (dictyocaulus viviparus).

### How is bovine respiratory disease complex treated?

Early antibiotic therapy is critical. First-line: ceftiofur, florfenicol, oxytetracycline, tilmicosin, or enrofloxacin (label use only — extra-label fluoroquinolone use in food animals is FDA-prohibited in many jurisdictions). NSAID (flunixin or meloxicam) reduces pyrexia and inflammation. Adequate ventilation, dry bedding, and reduced stress. Metaphylaxis on arrival for high-risk cattle is widely used.

### What is the prognosis for bovine respiratory disease complex?

Good if treated within 24 h of onset; mortality rises with delay. Chronic BRD survivors may have permanent lung damage and reduced performance.

## Sources

- Merck Veterinary Manual, 11th edition

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