Abstract for: From stress to sustainability: Navigating BRD-mediated feedback interactions in integrated beef production systems

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is an old but persistent challenge to the sustainability of U.S. beef production systems, with profound implications for economic viability, animal welfare, and environmental health. Over 2 billion USD in economic losses due to BRD are recorded annually. Additionally, as a complex multifactorial disease of cattle, about 30% of total US antimicrobial usage on food animals is attributable to BRD management. This research employed systems thinking to investigate the feedback interactions that drive BRD-induced perturbations within integrated beef production systems. Our model was developed with Vensim® PLE version 10.2.0, using diverse data sources from various published articles, including empirical studies, industry reports, and expert inputs, to conceptualize the key variables (and the linkages between them) such as stress-induced BRD susceptibility, antimicrobial usage, vaccination strategies, and the emergence of antimicrobial resistance. Through a causal loop diagram (CLD), we identified and analyzed reinforcing (2) and balancing (7) loops that govern the interplay between animal health, economic factors, and management practices in an integrated beef production system inflicted with BRD. For our model, the interplay of balancing and reinforcing loops with BRD in the production system reflects the complex trade-offs faced by beef cattle producers. While economic incentives drive herd expansion, disease susceptibility, healthcare costs, and antimicrobial resistance create natural constraints that regulate system stability. A systems thinking approach to BRD management emphasizes the need for strategic interventions that optimize both economic viability and herd health.