PARSIPPANY, N.J., Feb. 9, 2026 — Zoetis Inc. today announced the launch of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) genetic predictions in INHERIT® Select for commercial cow-calf operations and as an upgrade to its INHERIT Connect test for seedstock. This marks the first time that cattle producers can select replacement females and evaluate sires based on genetic predictions for BRD health and survival.
BRD costs the beef industry nearly $1 billion each year due to calf and production losses and increased treatment expenses.1-3 Until now, producers had no way to evaluate and select for the genetics that influence calf BRD health and survival after weaning.
“This is a breakthrough for the beef industry,” said Brett Bristol, head of Zoetis Precision Animal Health. “For the first time, producers can make selection and breeding decisions based on Genomic Expected Progeny Differences for BRD health and survival, in addition to production traits. Long-term, this innovation is expected to have meaningful economic impacts on commercial cow/calf producers and downstream backgrounders and feeders.”
Genetics That Compound Over Time
As the rebuilding of the U.S. cowherd begins and replacement costs are at historic highs, producers are looking for ways to build cow herds that last longer, raise healthier calves and deliver predictable value. Genetic advancement from testing and selection compounds over time; the breeding decisions made today influence future herd health and productivity.
INHERIT Select and INHERIT Connect with the BRD Upgrade include three BRD genetic predictions in the form of Genomic Expected Progeny Differences (GEPDs):
- BRD Health (BRDH) GEPD: Predicts genetic differences in the likelihood that calves (progeny) will stay healthy after weaning without requiring treatment for BRD. Higher BRDH and lower percent rank are better.
- BRD Survival (BRDS) GEPD: Predicts genetic differences in the likelihood that calves (progeny) will survive from arrival for backgrounding to harvest without dying from BRD. Higher BRDS and lower percent rank are better.
- $BRD Economic Index: Combines BRDH and BRDS into a single dollar value that estimates revenue impact per calf (progeny). Higher $BRD and lower rank are better.
These predictions are based on feedlot health and performance data from a commercially representative population of more than 50,000 head of cattle across North America. These phenotypes, along with continual genetic data additions, are updated weekly and included in the Zoetis Multi-Breed Genetic Evaluation.
Select Replacements That Build Healthier Calf Crops
“GEPDs for BRD and $BRD bridge an economically important gap in current beef genetic evaluations,” said Kent Andersen, PhD, director of Beef Technical Services for Zoetis Precision Animal Health. “BRD predictions give us a way to select for post-weaning BRDH and BRDS and related economic impact that we couldn’t before. That matters when used along with predictions for maternal, feedlot, carcass and adaptability traits, and simplified via economic indexes.”
With BRD genetic predictions in INHERIT Select, commercial cow-calf producers can:
- Select replacement heifers with stronger genetic potential across all major economically important traits to set the stage for healthier and more productive calf crops.
- Identify and invest in genetics for greater profit potential and less health risk that compounds over time.
Using the population of more than 440,000 commercial animals tested using INHERIT®, researchers compared the top versus bottom 25th percentile rank based on GEPDs for BRDH, BRDS and $BRD. The comparison shows progeny of the top 25th percentile that are genetically:
- 25% more likely to stay healthy and not require treatment for BRD from feedlot arrival to harvest4
- 14% more likely to survive and not die from BRD from feedlot arrival to harvest4
- $12 per calf advantage in net return from combined genetics for BRDH and BRDS4
Evaluate Bulls for BRD Health Genetics
For seedstock, the INHERIT Connect + BRD Upgrade provides a powerful way to evaluate bull batteries and potentially differentiate sale bulls based on BRD GEPDs and $BRD.
With the INHERIT Connect + BRD Upgrade, producers can:
- Potentially differentiate sale bulls with BRD predictions that benefit commercial buyers and downstream backgrounders and feeders
- Evaluate A.I. sires and bull batteries to benchmark genetic merit for BRD and identify favorable and unfavorable outliers
- Document genetic merit for BRDH and BRDS and position future calf crops for premium prices
When comparing bulls tested using INHERIT Connect + BRD Upgrade, bulls in the top 25th percentile rank for $BRD have a $1200 predicted advantage over bulls in the bottom 25th percentile rank, assuming they sire 100 calves during their lifetime.4
Product Details
INHERIT Select is a genomic test and genetic evaluation for commercial crossbred replacement females. It provides GEPDs and percentile rankings for 25 traits including BRDH, BRDS and $BRD, economic indexes that simplify selection, plus parentage discovery, breed composition, and color and polled genotypes. Results are updated weekly.
INHERIT Connect + BRD Upgrade is an option for testing seedstock sires and females for BRDH, BRDS and $BRD, enabling selection and differentiation based on BRDH genetics. Breeds eligible for this product include: Angus, Red Angus, Hereford, Simmental, Gelbvieh, Limousin, Charolais, Shorthorn and South Devon.
Producers can contact their Zoetis Genetics representative or visit beefgenetics.com to learn more and get started with testing.
About Zoetis
As the world’s leading animal health company, Zoetis is driven by a singular purpose: to nurture our world and humankind by advancing care for animals. After innovating ways to predict, prevent, detect, and treat animal illness for more than 70 years, Zoetis continues to stand by those raising and caring for animals worldwide – from veterinarians and pet owners to livestock producers. The company’s leading portfolio and pipeline of medicines, vaccines, diagnostics and technologies make a difference in over 100 countries. A Fortune 500 company, Zoetis generated revenue of $9.3 billion in 2024 with approximately 13,800 employees. For more information, visit www.zoetis.com.
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1 Barratt AS, Rich KM, Eze JI, Porphyre T, Gunn GJ, Stott AW. Framework for estimating indirect costs in animal health using time series analysis. Front Vet Sci. 2019;6:190.
2 Blakebrough-Hall C, McMeniman JP, González LA. An evaluation of the economic effects of bovine respiratory disease on animal performance, carcass traits, and economic outcomes in feedlot cattle defined using four BRD diagnosis methods. J Anim Sci. 2020;98(2).
3 Kappes A, Tozooneyi T, Shakil G, et al. Livestock health and disease economics: a scoping review of selected literature. Front Vet Sci. 2023;10.
4 Zoetis Beef Genetics R&D Technical Report. Development of Genomic Predictions for Bovine Respiratory Disease in Beef Cattle (2024). GG32Z-US-26-030. Project Team Leader, Yeni Bernal. Veterinary Medicine Research & Development Kalamazoo, Michigan 49007 United States.
