Futuristic farm with cattle wearing sensors, data visualizations floating.

Is Your Cattle's Behavior Predicting Illness? How Early Detection Can Save Your Herd

Theo Raines in Science & Nature September 2025 • 4 min read.

"Uncover the Secrets of Cattle Behavior: Early detection of Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) through changes in feeding habits could revolutionize cattle health management."

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) poses a significant threat to the well-being and financial stability of cattle operations. BRD, the most prevalent and costly disease in U.S. feedlot cattle, accounts for approximately 75% of morbidity and 50% to 75% of mortality cases annually. Traditional methods of detecting sick animals often rely on subjective observations of clinical symptoms, frequently leading to delayed interventions.

New research highlights the potential of precision livestock farming through electronic behavior-monitoring systems. These systems improve the sensitivity and specificity of preclinical BRD detection in feedlot cattle by observing changes in feeding behavior and dry matter intake (DMI). Detecting BRD early is not just about saving animals; it's about optimizing treatment efficacy, reducing the need for antimicrobials, and mitigating economic losses associated with reduced productivity and carcass value.

A study published in the Journal of Animal Science provides insights into how changes in feeding behavior patterns and dry matter intake can serve as early indicators of BRD. The goal is to characterize time-series deviations in DMI and feeding behavior patterns before the appearance of clinical symptoms, potentially transforming how the industry manages cattle health.

Decoding Cattle Behavior: What the Research Reveals

Futuristic farm with cattle wearing sensors, data visualizations floating.

The study, conducted at Texas A&M University, involved 231 seed stock bulls monitored over 70 days. The bulls were housed in a commercial bull-test facility equipped with GrowSafe feed bunks, enabling researchers to track individual feeding behavior with precision. Daily DMI and various feeding behavior traits were measured, including:

To identify deviations indicative of BRD, researchers used a two-slope broken-line regression model. This method helped pinpoint inflection points in DMI and feeding behavior traits relative to the onset of illness.

Frequency and duration of bunk visit events
Head-down duration
Variance of nonfeeding intervals
Time to approach feed bunk following feed-truck delivery

The bulls were divided into two groups: those that showed clinical signs of BRD (n = 30) and those that received metaphylactic treatment (preventative antibiotic treatment given to the whole group due to a decrease in feed intake, n = 201). This division allowed for a comparative analysis of behavioral changes leading up to both clinical diagnosis and proactive treatment.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Cattle Health Management

The study underscores the potential of integrating electronic behavior-monitoring systems into cattle management practices. Early detection of BRD through these systems could significantly improve animal welfare, reduce reliance on antimicrobials, and minimize economic losses. As technology advances, the ability to continuously monitor and analyze cattle behavior will likely become an indispensable tool for proactive and sustainable livestock farming.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.2527/jas.2015-9993, Alternate LINK

Title: Changes In Feeding Behavior Patterns And Dry Matter Intake Before Clinical Symptoms Associated With Bovine Respiratory Disease In Growing Bulls

Subject: Genetics

Journal: Journal of Animal Science

Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)

Authors: K. S. Jackson, G. E. Carstens, L. O. Tedeschi, W. E. Pinchak

Published: 2016-04-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) and why is early detection so crucial for cattle?

Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) is a major health threat in cattle, being the most prevalent and costly disease in U.S. feedlot cattle. It's responsible for a significant percentage of illness and death in cattle. Early detection is critical because it allows for timely intervention, improving animal welfare, optimizing treatment effectiveness, reducing the need for antimicrobials, and minimizing economic losses tied to reduced productivity and carcass value. Traditional detection methods are often delayed, highlighting the need for methods like electronic behavior-monitoring systems.

How can monitoring Dry Matter Intake (DMI) and feeding behavior help in detecting BRD early?

Monitoring Dry Matter Intake (DMI) and feeding behavior patterns can act as early indicators of Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD). The research focuses on identifying deviations in these patterns before clinical symptoms appear. For example, a decrease in DMI or changes in the frequency and duration of bunk visits might indicate early signs of illness. The study at Texas A&M University utilized GrowSafe feed bunks to precisely track individual feeding behaviors like head-down duration and time to approach feed bunk following feed-truck delivery, providing valuable insights into preclinical BRD detection.

Can you describe the specific feeding behavior traits that are monitored to detect BRD?

The research at Texas A&M University, focused on identifying early signs of Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) through monitoring various feeding behavior traits. These traits include: the frequency and duration of bunk visit events, the head-down duration, the variance of nonfeeding intervals, and the time to approach the feed bunk following feed-truck delivery. Analyzing these parameters along with Dry Matter Intake (DMI) allows for a comprehensive understanding of a cattle's health status.

What methodology was employed to analyze the feeding behavior data and identify deviations indicative of BRD?

To identify deviations indicative of Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD), researchers used a two-slope broken-line regression model. This statistical method helped them pinpoint inflection points in Dry Matter Intake (DMI) and feeding behavior traits relative to the onset of illness. This approach enabled a comparison between cattle that later showed clinical signs of BRD and those that received preventative treatment. This allows for a comparative analysis of behavioral changes leading up to both clinical diagnosis and proactive treatment.

What are the broader implications and future of integrating electronic behavior-monitoring systems in cattle management?

The integration of electronic behavior-monitoring systems into cattle management practices offers significant advancements for the future of cattle health. Early detection of Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) can substantially improve animal welfare by allowing for prompt treatment. It helps reduce the reliance on antimicrobials, addressing concerns related to antibiotic resistance. Moreover, it minimizes economic losses linked to reduced productivity and carcass value. As technology progresses, the ability to continuously monitor and analyze cattle behavior will likely become an indispensable tool for proactive and sustainable livestock farming, shifting towards precision livestock farming.