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Studies on a Cattle Disease of Unknown Origin in Southeastern Utah

Utah Agricultural Experiment Station

Abstract

A disease locally called "Brisket Disease" has plagued livestock of southeastern Utah for many years. The disease is characterized by a loss of appetite, edema (swelling) of the brisket and throat region, and a genaral unthrifty condition.

The theory that the disease is caused by altitude does not fit in with the experience of the cattle raisers in Utah.

Experiments were conducted to determine if trace elements or other supplements would prevent or cure the disease. The experiments were divided into four phases: (1) Supplementary feeding of all animals on both ranges, (2) additional feeding of calves on one of the ranges, (3) drenching cattle with trace minerals in a fenced section of range pasture, and (4) treatment of sick animals with various supplements.

Cattle on 7-mile Range received the trace minerals, copper, cobalt and later iron along with salt and bonemeal, while those on U. M. Range received only bonemeal and salt. Incidence of the disease appeared to be less among the cattle receiving the trace minerals.

In 1953 cattle on U. M. Range received a supplement of ground alfalfa hay at the rate of approximately one pound per head per day. Salt was used as regulator. The animals suffered no ill effect from the excess salt and incidence of the disease on this range was less than in any other year.

Calves on 7-mile Range were creep fed a protein pellet one year and alfalfa hay for two years. The value of protein pellets as a preventive measure for Brisket Disease was not satisfactorily determined. There appeared to be less incidence of Brisket Disease among calves that received the alfalfa hay than among those not receiving it.

A controlled experiment drenching animals with copper, cobalt, and iron was conducted for three consecutive years. There were no significant differences in gain of body weight, hemoglobin values, and incidence of the disease.

Animals that became affected with Brisket Disease were placed on various treatments to determine if the disease could be cured at the same elevation as it developed. Of the various treatments used in treating the sick animals only alfalfa hay appeared to bring about a recovery.

¹ Research assistant, Animal Husbandry Department; Head Veterinary Science Department; Assistant Professor Veterinary Science; Chairman Institute of Nutrition and Professor of Animal Husbandry, Logan; and Director of the Institute of Agricultural Sciences, The State College of Washington, Pullman, Washington, formerly President of Utah State Agricultural College.