What is the average respiration rate, in breaths per minute, for cattle?

The average respiration rate for cattle typically falls within the range of 10 to 30 breaths per minute when the animals are resting in a calm environment. This range reflects normal physiological activity for cattle and is essential for evaluating their health and well-being. Understanding the average respiration rate is crucial for veterinarians and livestock handlers since significant deviations from this range can indicate stress, illness, or other health issues in cattle.

The other ranges are not consistent with the expected respiratory rates for cattle. For instance, a range of 5 to 10 breaths per minute is unusually low and would not support the metabolic needs of a healthy adult animal. Similarly, a range of 30 to 50 breaths per minute or even 50 to 70 would indicate a state of distress or excitement in cattle, which is not typical in a calm, healthy state. Thus, recognizing that 10 to 30 breaths per minute is the normative range helps in monitoring and maintaining the overall health of cattle.