BRD in Calves: Catch It Before They Crash

The first sign of BRD may not be a dramatic cough or a calf that looks obviously sick. Sometimes, it's simply the calf that *didn't come to the bunk this morning.* In this video, we look at Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) as a timeline rather than just a treatment event. You'll follow a calf through weaning, processing, hauling, arrival, and the early behavioral changes that can signal something isn't right. We'll cover: Why weaning, hauling, weather, dust, diet changes, and commingling can increase BRD risk Why knowing what's *normal for your calves* makes abnormal behavior easier to spot Where to look for calves beginning to fall behind The *D.A.R.T. framework: Depression, Appetite, Respiration, and Temperature* Practical management steps that can help reduce BRD risk before symptoms appear Why vaccination timing and reducing unnecessary stacked stress matter What to establish with your veterinarian *before* you're standing at the chute with a sick calf Which treatment and response records are worth keeping The goal isn't to diagnose BRD from one symptom or become better at treating calves after they've crashed. It's to *recognize meaningful changes early, evaluate the calf, and follow a predetermined veterinary protocol.* Whether you're preparing home-raised calves for weaning or receiving higher-risk cattle, early observation can be one of your most useful management tools. 💬 *What's usually the first warning you notice in a calf that's starting to get sick: appetite, behavior, breathing, or something else?* Tell us in the comments. 👍 Subscribe to *West Texas Livestock Growers* for more practical cattle health, nutrition, and ranch management content. #BeefCattle #Ranching #Agriculture #BRD #BovineRespiratoryDisease #CalfHealth #CattleHealth #CowCalf #CattleManagement #Preconditioning #CalfWeaning #BeefProduction #LivestockHealth #RanchManagement #CattleProducers