High Mountain Disease, or commonly known as Brisket Disease, is a very common condition seen in cattle raised in regions greater than 5000 ft. of elevation. The disease is characterized by ventral edema in the brisket region that is caused by high blood pressure in the lungs and right sided heart failure. Cattle mortality from this disease can result in the loss of 3% to 5% of the calf crop but has been reported to be as high as 25% and morbidity greater than 40%. Historically, Brisket Disease has been a problem of higher altitude environments but recent evidence has shown that cattle at much lower elevations are being affected, particularly in the high plains feedlots. All breeds can be affected and often times animals will be “sub- clinical”, meaning that they do not show outward signs of being ill but will not grow or produce like they should. Through PAP (Pulmonary Arterial Pressure) Testing, we can determine an individual animal’s potential to develop Brisket Disease and because High Mountain Disease is moderately heritable in the Angus breed, we can evaluate that animal’s potential to pass on genetic traits that can greatly influence the performance of that animal’s offspring. The PAP test can be influenced by several factors other than EPD that is being used making yearling PAP the most common phenotype used to determine if cattle are tolerant to high altitude production systems. A crucial component to the PAP test being more reliable and accurate than the EPD is that cattle are tested at the appropriate age and elevation. It is important that cattle being tested are at least 12 months of age when the test is performed and that those animals have resided over 5500 feet of elevation for at least 30 days. The higher in elevation that the animals reside, the greater the confidence we have in our PAP testing data. Nick Johnson, DVM Sorensen-Intermountain Veterinary Hospital 213 Bolinger Road • Belgrade, MT 59714 • 406-388-6275 • svhlargeanimal@gmail.com • sorensenvethospital.com
BULL CHART KEY
Here at Lucht Red Angus, we strive to produce animals that we like to call “The Total Package”- meaning they are well balanced across the board rather than prioritizing one EPD over another. This ensures that our animals are suitable to perform in any herd. Beyond having balanced traits, fertility is our primary criteria for culling. Nothing is worse than having a bull that wants to play pinochle instead of doing his job, or a cow that keeps pushing back her calving window. Fertility, longevity, and balance are what set our animals apart from the herd.
Calving Ease H Low calving ease
HH Moderate Calving Ease HHH High Calving Ease
PAP Testing Risk a Unknown Risk
(these bulls are NOT equipped for high altitude)
aa Moderate Risk
(these bulls are equipped for moderate and lower elevations)
aaaaa Low Risk
(these bulls are well equipped for high altitude)
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