Bovine respiratory disease in beef cattle under intensive and semi-intensive systems: a systematic review on the effects of nutritional supplementation

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is a significant condition in animal production, particularly in feedlot cattle. Prevention and treatment generally rely on antimicrobials. Nonetheless, alternatives are necessary to reduce antimicrobial usage. Therefore, this systematic review discusses the use of dietary supplements in prevention and treatment strategies for BRD. The present review explores the use of probiotics, prebiotics, vitamins, and minerals for preventing and controlling BRD in beef cattle under intensive and semi-intensive management. Published studies were retrieved from three different databases: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Overall, the results highlight the potential of dietary supplements in improving bovine respiratory health and immune response. However, results varied between studies depending on the combination of supplements, dosage, and timing of administration. Saccharomyces cerevisiae was the most researched probiotic regarding its effects on bovine health. In conclusion, supplementation with yeasts, bacteria, minerals, and vitamins shows considerable potential for improving bovine respiratory health and the immune response.