HIGH ALTITUDE DISEASE

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Cowgirl94

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Mar 8, 2011
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168
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Colorado
Just bought a heifer from texas. I live in Colorado at about 8,000 ft. I told my vet and he always told me never pass up a good one just because of the altitude. I planned on getting her PAP tested when she got up her so im a little nervous about the recent purchase but i really like her! Any opinions on what I should do or any advice? What should I do if she scores high:/
 

Mueller Show Cattle

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Oct 26, 2010
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Glenrock, Wyoming
I started a post on this last year cause I did not know much on High Altitude Disease (Brisket Disease). But I am a 4-H leader and had a girl that bought 2 red Angus steers in Kansas last year and brought them back to Wyoming, she lived at approximately 6,500ft altitude. Both of her steers got it and died. People posted that it is more common in steers than heifers and once they are past a year old, it is less common. But I would watch her close and see what your vet thinks after you have her tested as your vet probably deals with it being in that altitude. Anyway, you are much higher than she was and she had 2 die, something to think about. Her 2 steers lived for a week and she went out to feed in the morning and they were both dead, her vet came out and said it was brisket disease. I live at 5,300ft altitude and have not had anything happen to anything I have brought back but you are almost 3,000 ft higher than me.
 

Cowgirl94

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Mar 8, 2011
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168
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Colorado
thank you and yeah i bought two heifers last year from wyoming and never had them tested and they are still going strong and had their calves a week ago. I think its just the luck of the draw sometimes :/ i guess we will see
 

GoWyo

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Nov 29, 2008
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Wyoming
They need to be at altitude of at least 5000' or so for a period of time before you can PAP them as I understand the test.
 

aandtcattle

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Nov 18, 2010
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489
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Hay Springs, Nebraska
Yes, they do need to be at a high elevation to learn anything.  You can pap test at sea level and it aint gunna tell you squat about what that critter would test at 7500 feet.
 

Cowgirl94

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Mar 8, 2011
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168
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Colorado
yeah thats what my vet said... he said u get the best results on a pap if they are at the altitude they will be staying at for 30 days but i will also know before that if the altitude starts getting to her. And shes outta who made who does anyone know if this bull has more genetic problems with high altitude disease because thats what ive heard
 

KSanburg

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May 5, 2010
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695
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Western Colorado
Yes it is best for you to have them above 5000 ft the higher the better, Continental cattle generally do not have as much issues as British bred cattle. Angus are generally worse than Herefords, I don't know much about Short Horn but I have been told their tolerances are similar to Herefords and it is all genetic. I purchased a steer from a fellow here in colorado a few years ago that came down with it and was born at around 7500 ft. so just because they were raised at elevation doesn't mean much either just less like;y because the breeders up here have weeded those genetics out of their herd. Watch her close if she displays any signs of pneumonia or if she starts losing weight and becomes lethargic get her to a vet because those are the symptoms that show up first, also call the breeder and find out if she had pneumonia as a calf which can enhance the problem.

If everything goes okay for the next month call Dr. Holt at CSU and I am sure he or his tech can get you lined up for a PAP test and then you know what you are dealing with.
 

Cowgirl94

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Mar 8, 2011
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168
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Colorado
yeah its just always scary just waiting around to see what happens but we have had calves born here that get it so maybe ill get lucky and she'll be fine.. fingers crossed!
 

Mueller Show Cattle

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Oct 26, 2010
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Glenrock, Wyoming
Cowgirl94 said:
yeah its just always scary just waiting around to see what happens but we have had calves born here that get it so maybe ill get lucky and she'll be fine.. fingers crossed!
Yes it does sound crazy, like I said I did not know much about it and how the PAP test works. But the girl that had the 2 steers die only had them a week. She only said that her steers looked like their briskets looked big and the next morning they were both dead. So there would have been no way to wait 30 days as they both were dead at a week. I would watch it close and i'm at a much lower altitude than you, I don't think I have much to worry about as it can happen at my altitude but I have been told it is much more common at 6,500ft and higher in altitude, good luck.
 
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