Brisket Disease

[sattre6]

I run cattle in Iowa, Brisket disease is relativley unkown here. If I purchase heifers with high PAP scores from out west, and bring them back to Iowa, will they suitable for breeding or feeding at this altitude (3000 feet) The cattle I am looking at are young heifers tested at altitude and culled for high PAP scores (52 or higher). I don't see the diseease as an issue, but rather the level of degradation that may already have occurred that may effect their future performance. Thanks for your input.

 

[leanin' H]

First off.... Welcome to Ranchers! It's my understanding that brisket disease only effects cattle that run Over 7000 feet. If they test under a 41 as a yearling or from 41-45 as over 16 months they would be fine at higher altitudes. As far as 52 and higher scores, I am not sure as we run at over 7000 and stay under 41 on PAP scores. Good luck.

 

[Triangle Bar]

Cattle can be susceptible at elevations of 5,000 ft. or greater — with 7,500 ft. and greater becoming the most critical elevations. I would think at your elevation they would be fine. PAP testing tries to identify the animals that would be most affected by higher elevations and be pre-disposed to pulmonary hypertension and resulting congestive heart failure. I suppose you could conclude that the older these high testing critters get the more health problems they could potentially develop from their predisposition to hypertension, even at your elevation.

My place sits at 7800 ft & summer up to 9500 ft or so. Welcome to Ranchers.

 

[Haytrucker]

FWIW, we are in 4000 feet above country, and "brisket" is nearly unheard of here. I could hear from the exception on this, but I would think your altitude should be almost free from those problems.

 

[VLS_GUY]

I am curious about running cattle above 7,000 Ft in altitude. Beyond Brisket Disease what are the other problems you worry about? The cattle I have seen over 7,000 ft. seemed to have a sunburn problem particularly when snow was on the ground. How does altitude impact range productivity and growth rates?

 

[sattre6]

Thanks for the quick replies, whish I had seen this site a while ago. Best of luck to all of you!

 

[Doug Thorson]

When he gets back from Cooper's bull sale, Nedjr is the guy to talk to. His ranch is over 8000 ft and he does a lot of PAP testing for altitudes, but he also sends cattle to Kansas.

My best guess is that you would be fine with the young cattle, but I don't know.

 

[Northern Rancher]

i've nevrer heard of anybody testing bulls for it up here-iwonder why there'some high country in b'c and alberta.

 

[leanin' H]

I am curious about running cattle above 7,000 Ft in altitude. Beyond Brisket Disease what are the other problems you worry about? The cattle I have seen over 7,000 ft. seemed to have a sunburn problem particularly when snow was on the ground. How does altitude impact range productivity and growth rates?

It changes dramatically. Our range goes from foothills of 5500 to over 9500. At spring turn out the foothills will be thriving while snow still covers the high pastures. Cold spring weather really slows down the grass up high but it stays palatable much later after the low pastures go to seed and harden. Our cattle browse a lot too on available forage when the grass is behind due to cold or drought. Plus, locoweed and larkspur can be deadly when the conditions are right. Spent many a day trying to save loco cattle from killing themselves.

 

[Ned Jr.]

Doug, with all the calves I'm having and a storm that blew in I decided to do the right thing and stay home to take care of things. No Cooper sale for me this year.

I don't see the diseease as an issue, but rather the level of degradation that may already have occurred that may effect their future performance.

I'd think that once you get them off the mountain they should do fine. They might really do well with more oxygen.

I do wonder a little if, as feeders, they would be more susceptible to Feedlot Brisket. I've only heard of Feedlot Brisket in Angus cattle and it's believed to come from the Traveler 6807 genetics. I sell quite a bit of semen to a man that feeds his cattle and use to have alot of Feedlot Brisket. He said as soon as he got all the money he possibly could wrapped into them and the calves were ready for the killer they'd fall over dead with it. These calves were born in South Dakota and being fed in Nebraska.

 

[jodywy]

We run from around 5600 feet to over 9,000. Neighbor that raises Reg Herefords and Black angus had to ship a black hiefer back to Logan Ut to his other place here a few years ago the change of a 1000 feet or so was enough to cause problems. that same year saw a few black cows and calves on the forest and even some on the river bottom pasture all swelled up.

 

[Doug Thorson]

Doug, with all the calves I'm having and a storm that blew in I decided to do the right thing and stay home to take care of things. No Cooper sale for me this year.

@$#%#&$)$#+# weather kept me home also. Here I was just about ready to start a list of questions to quiz you about. Sounds like they might be able to hang in there and have another sale next year though.