Ranchers, given the recent Trich outbreak, understand the risks and implement these 5 tips to help protect your cattle.
By Tony Hawkins, DVM, Valley Vet Supply Technical Service Veterinarian
Trichomoniasis, most commonly known as Trich, is a devastating disease affecting cattle. It causes infertility and early embryonic death, leading to a high percentage of open and/or late-bred cows. The enormous cost of open cows, the veterinary and laboratory costs for investigation and diagnosis, and the costs of culling and replacing animals can lead to considerable economic strain.
What is Trich, and how is it spread?
Trich is a venereal disease in cattle; the pathogen lives in the genital tracts of cattle and is spread from infected bulls to cows and from infected cows to bulls during breeding. Bulls carry the disease and can remain infected indefinitely. Most cows clear the infection within three to five months, but immunity is short-lived and reinfection is possible.
The only way that Trich enters a herd is through an infected animal. The most obvious avenue is by introducing an infected bull or cow into the herd. However, it’s not uncommon during shared grazing, or a breach in the boundary fence, for infected neighboring cattle to breed with – and thus infect – a herd.
What are the symptoms of Trich?
Trich does not cause any apparent illness in infected animals. The only sign that Trich is in the herd is reproductive problems — a large percentage of open cows, multiple heat cycles, and increased percentage of late-bred cows. During pregnancy diagnosis, your veterinarian might also notice an increased incidence of pyometra, or pus-filled infection of the uterus.
Depending on the number of Trich-positive bulls turned out with cows, New Mexico State University estimates the loss in the first year’s calf crop can be as high as 50%.
How is Trich diagnosed?
Trich should be suspected in herds with poor conception rates and an extended calving season. A diagnosis is confirmed by testing the bulls for the presence of the organism. To do this, your veterinarian will collect preputial scrapings from your bull and send the sample to a lab for analysis. If one bull is infected, you must assume that the whole herd is infected. Diagnosis in cows is difficult and not practical in most situations.
What are treatment and control options?
There is no treatment for Trich. Once your herd has been infected, you must cull all bulls that were part of the affected breeding group, as well as any cows with pyometra. With Trich, the best option is to practice strong biosecurity and sound management to prevent introduction of Trich into your herd.
To best prevent Trich, I recommend the following five tips:
- Do not introduce infected animals. Buy young, virgin bulls from a reputable breeder and perform a Trich test on all bulls as part of the pre-breeding fertility exam. Do not buy open or short bred (less than 120 days) cows.
- Maintain good perimeter fences to segregate groups and neighboring herds.
- If shared grazing is necessary, communication is key. Work with your fellow producers and veterinarians to implement a Trich control and prevention protocol.
- Implement a defined breeding season and maintain good records of pasture groups and pregnancy status.
- Vaccines are available to help offer herds protection against Trich. While the vaccines do not entirely prevent embryonic death or infertility, when administered to cows the vaccines have been shown to help decrease the reproductive consequences and help them clear the infection faster.
Unfortunately, this is not an easy disease to control once it has been introduced. The economic impact alone can cause tremendous strain on any operation. Prevention is best accomplished with strict biosecurity and by working closely with your herd health veterinarian.
Visit ValleyVet.com for vaccines and more to help ensure your herd’s health.
About the author: Valley Vet Supply Technical Service Veterinarian, Tony Hawkins, DVM, attended Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, where he placed focus on mixed-animal practice. Before joining the Technical Service veterinarian team at Valley Vet Supply, Dr. Hawkins practiced veterinary medicine in Marysville, Kansas, where he was greatly involved in cattle health, including processing, obstetrical work, and servicing the local sale barn. He also is treasured by the community for his care of horses and pets, through wellness appointments and surgery.
About Valley Vet Supply
Valley Vet Supply was founded in 1985 by veterinarians to provide customers with the very best animal health solutions. Building on over half a century of experience in veterinary medicine, Valley Vet Supply serves equine, pet and livestock owners with thousands of products and medications hand-selected by Valley Vet Supply Technical Service veterinarians and team of industry professionals. With an in-house pharmacy that is licensed in all 50 states, and verified through the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP), Valley Vet Supply is the dedicated source for all things horse, livestock and pet. For more information, please visit ValleyVet.com.
Media contact: Aimee Robinson
Aimee@ValleyVet.com / 785-562-5106 x 282
Image available with request.