Bovine congestive heart failure (BCHF) is rising across North America, driven by genetics and weight gain, and producers are being urged to use pulmonary arterial pressure testing and genetic markers to identify at-risk animals before they enter the feedlot.
The incidence of congestive heart failure is increasing in beef cattle across North America. Bovine congestive heart failure, also called brisket disease or high mountain disease, severely affects herds at higher elevations and has become a significant cause of death in feedlot cattle at lower elevations. Estimates suggest mortality from BCHF has risen to above seven per cent in severely affected pens, with annual losses exceeding $250,000 at a single operation.
Dr. Timothy Holt, veterinarian and professor in livestock medicine at Colorado State University, explains that hypoxia—when the body is starved for oxygen—is the primary trigger. While altitude is a factor at 2,000 metres, cattle in lower-elevation feedlots become hypoxic due to increased body size and body fat. “The bigger they are, the more prone they are to heart failure,” Holt says.
Increased body fat can deposit fat around the heart and in the chest cavity, impeding normal breathing patterns and creating a hypoxic state that can lead to heart failure. The cattle industry has long favoured genetic selection for growth rate and carcass merit, resulting in heavier carcasses with better marbling scores. According to the Beef Cattle Research Council, the average weight of Canadian feeder cattle increased from 945 pounds in 1960 to 1,450 pounds in 2024, a 53 per cent increase, and that number continues to rise.
Bulls genetically predisposed to the hypoxia that leads to BCHF, and their offspring, should only be bred at lower elevations. Producers questioning the cause of heart failure deaths should review the genetics of their herd and look at expected progeny differences (EPDs) for pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP). “If they find out they are using bulls that have plus 1 or more for PAP-EPD, that’s something they should evaluate,” Holt advises. Cattle are born with a very small pulmonary system compared to their weight; as weight increases, they virtually outgrow their cardiovascular space.
Holt recommends preventative measures such as a respiratory vaccination program and mineral supplementation to care for the pulmonary system. If a problem is identified, working with a veterinarian to perform the PAP test—measuring lung blood flow resistance—can identify animals at risk.
