A sweeping analysis of over one million Australian feedlot cattle has revealed that the strongest predictors of death from bovine respiratory disease are established long before animals even arrive at the feedlot—pointing to the critical importance of prevention at the source.

Researchers discovered that early preventive measures on source properties can dramatically reduce feedlot respiratory deaths, suggesting that health interventions begin far earlier in an animal's life than previously emphasized. This finding underscores a broader principle applicable across agriculture and animal health: catching problems upstream saves lives downstream. Read the full story →

Today's takeaway: Prevention truly is better than cure—investing in early health strategies can save lives and reduce suffering across entire populations.