Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) remains the most costly health challenge in beef finishing systems. One of the main difficulties in managing BRD is timing—by the time clinical signs are clear, performance losses often have already begun.
A 2025 European study explored whether automated monitoring of individual water intake could help identify cattle at higher risk of BRD during the adaptation period, when disease pressure is highest.
Why water intake?
Drinking behaviour is essential and consistent, making it a useful indicator of animal well-being. Yet individual water intake is rarely measured in beef systems because it has traditionally required direct observation.
This study tested whether electronic drinking stations could capture early changes in water use linked to respiratory disease.
How the study worked
Researchers followed 92 Limousine cattle imported from France and placed in an Italian fattening unit. Animals were monitored during their first four weeks after arrival.
Each animal used an automated drinking station that:
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Identified individuals via RFID
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Recorded daily water intake
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Logged drinking time and visit frequency
Daily veterinary health checks documented all BRD treatments.
What the study found
BRD occurred early
Nearly half of the cattle (49%) received at least one treatment for BRD, most within the first two weeks after arrival, confirming the adaptation period as the highest-risk phase.
Water intake dropped before treatment
Cattle treated multiple times for BRD consistently drank less water than healthy animals:
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Never treated: ~27 L/day
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Treated once: ~24 L/day
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Treated two or more times: ~21 L/day
Water intake declined one to two days before treatment, even though animals continued visiting the drinker and spent similar time drinking. The change was driven by less water consumed per visit, not fewer visits.
A clear risk threshold
Cattle drinking less than 20.8 L/day were over four times more likely to develop BRD than those with higher intake. While this level does not diagnose disease, it clearly flags animals at increased risk.
Season mattered
BRD risk was higher in cattle arriving during autumn and winter, particularly in September, November, and January. Elevated temperature-humidity index (THI) levels also increased disease occurrence, reflecting combined transport and environmental stress.
Practical implications
Reduced water intake emerged as an early and measurable signal associated with respiratory disease during the adaptation period.
For beef operations, this suggests:
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The first two weeks after arrival deserve the most attention
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Animals that drink less—but still approach the waterer—may require closer observation
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Cold-season arrivals carry higher BRD risk
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Automated monitoring can help prioritize labour and intervention
Final observation
When beef cattle drink less during the adaptation period, it may signal increased respiratory disease risk before obvious clinical signs appear. Automated water intake monitoring cannot replace stockmanship or veterinary care, but it may offer a useful early-warning tool to support healthier cattle and more timely intervention during the most vulnerable phase of finishing.
