Cattle High-Altitude Disease and Brisket Oedema Welfare

High mountain disease — brisket oedema from right heart failure at altitude — affects beef cattle moved to high-elevation summer range. Individual susceptibility varies by genetics and altitude, and affected animals require prompt descent for welfare and survival.

Key Facts

High mountain disease typically affects cattle at altitudes above 2,200 metres, where reduced oxygen partial pressure increases pulmonary vascular resistance
Affected cattle develop right ventricular hypertrophy and failure, causing fluid accumulation in the brisket, neck, and ventral abdomen
Susceptibility has a strong genetic component — Hereford cattle are particularly prone compared to some other beef breeds
Up to 5 per cent of cattle in affected high-altitude ranching regions may develop clinical brisket disease in a single grazing season
Descending affected animals to lower altitude before right heart failure is irreversible may allow partial recovery in mildly affected individuals

Welfare Considerations

Cattle with brisket oedema experience progressive respiratory distress, exercise intolerance, and weakness as cardiac output falls. Advanced cases are unable to walk normally, lose body condition rapidly, and die without intervention. Welfare-conscious high-altitude producers monitor all cattle regularly for early brisket swelling, which can precede respiratory distress by days to weeks. Early identification enables descent before irreversible cardiac pathology develops. Genetic selection against high-altitude susceptibility in breeding herds, and avoiding placing susceptible individuals on high-altitude range, are the most effective long-term welfare interventions.

What You Can Do

Monitor cattle on high-altitude range weekly during the grazing season for early brisket swelling as a warning sign
Move affected cattle to lower altitude immediately — delay significantly worsens prognosis and extends suffering
Work with your vet to select breeding bulls tested for pulmonary arterial pressure, a heritable predictor of high-altitude susceptibility
Consult your vet about altitude limits for specific animals with a history of brisket disease before returning them to high-elevation range
Support research into genetic markers for high-altitude disease resistance to enable selection against susceptibility in commercial beef breeding programmes