Brought on by an abrupt change in pasture conditions, ABPE causes cattle to present with signs of lung disease within two weeks of pasture change. Death often follows within two to four days of symptoms appearing. 

Under normal stockpiling conditions, pasture change is less drastic from one pasture to another, but in severe drought conditions the problem is more pronounced. Abruptly switching cattle from pastures with sparse, low-quality forage to pastures with lush, rapidly growing forage can trigger the disease. Hungry from their time in sparse pasture conditions, the animals tend to overeat when moved to more productive pasture. 

Symptoms can include labored, shallow breathing, panting, an open frothy mouth and an extended neck and head indicating impaired breathing. 

To prevent ABPE from developing, provide a more gradual adaptation to lush forage in a new pasture. Besides feeding hay, limiting cattle access to the new pasture for the first few days will aid the adaptation process. 

If an outbreak of ABPE occurs, all animals should be removed from the lush pasture and fed good-quality hay. Movement of sick animals should be minimal and done with care. Sick animals with ABPE have a breathing problem and should not be handled in a manner that will increase their need for oxygen.

Other causes of cattle mortality during drought can include plant toxicity, as the limited pasture may mean animals are more likely to eat plants, buckeyes and acorns that they normally wouldn’t.