Angus cattle on feed at JBS’s Beef City feedlot near Toowoomba

MAJOR lotfeeder and grainfed beef producer JBS Australia has introduced a requirement for all Angus cattle entering the company’s Queensland feedlots (Beef City and Mungindi) to be pre-vaccinated with Coopers Bovilis MH+IBR, to help control respiratory disease.

Pre-vaccination has been mandatory for cattle entering JBS’s NSW feedyards (Prime City, Caroona, Riverina and Yambinya) since 2021, which the company says has improved cattle performance and health by reducing cases of Bovine Respiratory Disease.

JBS will next year pay a $15 premium for Angus feeders entering the company’s Queensland yards that have received the first of their two shots of Bovilis. The company will deliver the second at induction.

JBS northern livestock manager Edwin Cooke

“We’ve seen first-hand the impact of Bovilis MH+IBR pre-vaccination,” said Edwin Cooke, General Manager, Northern Livestock.

“In our NSW feedlots, vaccination has helped us reduce respiratory issues, maintain consistent performance and reduce antibiotic usage. We’re now mandating pre-vaccination of Angus cattle entering our Queensland feedlots commencing in January 2026 due to the results we’ve seen,” he said.

While Brahman cross cattle have traditionally dominated Queensland feedlots, JBS says market trends are increasingly favouring Angus and other British-bred cattle due to their feedlot efficiency and stronger market performance. Southern British cattle are more susceptible to BRD than northern crossbreds, the company said.

“Feedlot cattle are more susceptible to respiratory disease (than paddock cattle),” said Felicity Wills, Veterinarian at MSD Animal Health, the manufacturer of Coopers vaccines.

“Bovilis MH + IBR gives them vital protection during the high-risk induction and early feeding period,” she said.

Bovilis MH+IBR is Australia’s only vaccine that provides protection against both Mannheimia haemolytica (MH) and Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR) in one vaccine, two of the most common and costly contributors to BRD.

“Respiratory disease doesn’t just impact animal health. It affects average daily gain, feed efficiency and carcass quality,” Dr Wills said.

“Vaccination gives producers confidence that their cattle are protected and ready to perform in feedlot settings.”

From January 1, all Angus cattle entering any JBS feedlot must be pre-vaccinated with Bovilis MH+IBR before transport.

JBS is encouraging vendors across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia to ensure Angus feeder cattle heading into the company’s Queensland yards meet specifications, as sourcing expands to meet rising demand.

“We’re sourcing cattle from all states and territories, therefore it’s important that we set-up our procurement process to source cattle ready to perform, which includes best management practices such as pre-vaccination,” Mr Cooke said.

“The Bovilis MH+IBR pre-vaccination requirement on our JBS Angus programs ensures consistency across all of our feedlots. JBS will continue to support producers with a premium to pre-vaccinate their Angus cattle consigned to a JBS feedlot,” he said.

The change reflects JBS’s ongoing commitment to animal health and welfare, not just a regulatory shift, but as an operational standard. “This isn’t just a new requirement, it’s standard best practice to ensure the welfare of cattle,” Mr Cooke added.

• Beef Central plans to circle back with a deep-dive into the feeder steer pre-vaccination movement later this year.
• For more information or to confirm vaccination requirements, producers are encouraged to contact their local JBS cattle buyer.

Source: JBS/Coopers