The Bovine Congestive Heart Failure (BCHF) test was developed recently by the USDA research center in Clay Center, Nebraska, to identify cattle that are at risk of congestive heart failure. Congestive heart failure is responsible for around 7% of the deaths in feedlots of the Midwest. Symptoms are similar to high-elevation disease (or brisket disease) with a swollen brisket, right heart failure, and eventually death.
In addition to the BCHF test, the USDA research team identified a protection gene that they named “Jumonji.” The research on the Jumonji gene is new and waiting to be published.
When one copy of the Jumonji gene is present, it provides protection from BCHF no matter the risk factor. This gene is rare and only about 10% of cattle carry a single copy while less than 0.25% carry both copies (homozygous). Since a homozygous sire is guaranteed to pass on one copy of the Jumonji gene, any calves from those sires are protected.
PCC® has been testing bulls for BCHF and Jumonji for a couple of years now. This year, we have identified a few bulls that are homozygous for Jumonji. These bulls could really be helpful to high elevation herds or herds experiencing death losses from BCHF. Come visit with us at our upcoming bull workdays to learn more about BCHF and Jumonji.
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