This project originated from concerns over mortalities in cattle exported from Australia to the Middle East that had been attributed to respiratory disease. This project was based on a collaborative and innovative approach involving a total of 194,216 cattle over twenty voyages.

This project originated from concerns over mortalities in cattle exported from Australia to the Middle East that had been attributed to respiratory disease. This project was based on a collaborative and innovative approach involving a total of 194,216 cattle over twenty voyages.

During the study, 50% of deaths were caused by bovine respiratory disease (BRD), 15% by musculoskeletal and injury-related conditions, and the remaining deaths were due to a range of causes. The findings of the study reinforce the importance of performing gross necropsy examination as relying on clinical observations is a highly unreliable basis for diagnosing BRD as a cause of death. 

This project studied BRD epidemiology noting the presence of BCoV and the role of exposure to BRD pathogens while in co-mingling environments. The findings of the project also highlight the critical influence of cattle management strategies to decrease the risk of BRD regardless of vaccination status.