Bovine dilatated cardiomyopathie (BDCMP) is inherited as a monogenic autosomal recessive trait. BDCMP is a lethal hereditary disease occurring in Holstein cattle all over the world during the last 30 years. In Switzerland the first BDCMP cases were recognized at the end of the seventies and BDCMP became known as the „Holstein disease“ of Swiss Fleckvieh. Pedigree analysis identified the Canadian Holstein bull „ABC Reflexion Sovereign“ born in 1945 as the founder animal of BDCMP. We identified the causative mutation for BDCMP and developed a direct gene test, which allows the unequivocal identification of carriers. 

Funding: SNSF

Contact: PD Dr. Martin Braunschweig

Genetic testing

Scientific publications