Over time, Bovine congestive heart failure (BCHF), sometimes referred to as “late-day” or “late stage” morbidity has emerged as a condition of significance to the cattle industry. BCHF is a significant cause of death in feedlot cattle at low to moderate elevations (2600 – 5200 feet). Mortality from BCHF has reached 7.5% in severely affected pens of cattle, with annual losses exceeding $250,000 for a single operation. In the cattle finishing sector it can be the single most costly health-related problem, even surpassing losses from bovine respiratory disease. Symptoms of BCHF can often look similar to those of high-altitude (or “brisket disease”). While recovery from high altitude disease is possible by moving cattle to lower elevations, BCHF is an untreatable, fatal condition involving pulmonary hypertension that culminates in right ventricular heart failure. BCHF is occurring in well managed operations, feeding high genetic merit cattle at low elevation feedlots in the Midwest and higher elevations of the Western Great Plains of North America. Accordingly, reducing the incidence of BCHF is a high priority for the cattle industry.
Heart Scores and BCHF
Heart Scores (which can be collected at the harvest endpoint of fed cattle) are used as an indicator of heart remodeling and cardiovascular health in cattle. As shown below, a score of 1 indicates a healthy bovine heart. Higher heart scores indicate more severe heart remodeling, which is associated with a greater risk of BCHF.
The Genetic Component of BCHF
While there are many non-genetic factors that can contribute to BCHF, it is encouraging that several on-going research projects preliminary data indicates the potential to address BCHF through genetic improvement and selection. A summary of the information presented at 2026 Beef Improvement Federation meetings:
- Heart failure can occur in any cattle operation, at any age and at any altitude.
- Heart scores are measurable and phenotypes are being collected.
- Heritability estimates of heart scores are in the low to moderate range – indicating selection for lower heart scores can be effective.
- Heart scores are influenced by polygenic inheritance
- Heart issues exist in every breed
Bottomline
The potential exist to develop selection tools (EPDs) to select for healthier hearts. While the incidence of BCHF occurs primarily in feedlots. The selection tools developed can be implemented at the seedstock and cow-calf levels to make cumulative, permanent genetic improvement.
References:
https://www.ars.usda.gov/plains-area/clay-center-ne/marc/bchf/bchf-main
