trichomoniasis- will it be the end of the cattle industry?

[Bradenh]

heres an article about tric. i heard its spreading and many experts say if we dont monitor it and test for it. that it could be the end of the cattle industry. any body on here know about it? just worried and looking out for the future and wanting to get awareness out
Cattle trichomoniasis (trick-o-mun-eye-i-sis) is a venereal disease of cattle cased by the Tritrichomonas foetus protozoa that is
about the size of a sperm. Infected bulls carry the protozoan on their penis and prepuce, and as the bull ages, the conditions
on the surface of the organs become more favorable for the organism to thrive. Cattle trichomoniasis is not a human health
issue.
Trichomoniasis, or “trich,” is transmitted to cows through breeding. Cows may abort early in the pregnancy and become
temporarily infertile. Cattle producers can loose valuable income from the resulting extended breeding seasons and
diminished calf crops.
You can’t tell by looking! Infected breeding bulls continue to appear and act normally. Only testing will confirm the
presence or absence of the disease-causing protozoa. Once infected, bulls remain infected and capable of spreading infection.
No approved treatment or vaccine exists for bulls.
On the other hand, the majority of infected cows will clear the infection, if given 120-150 days of sexual rest. A vaccine also
can be administered to cows to help manage the disease. Producers with infected herds should work with their veterinarian to
determine the most appropriate measures to employ to eliminate the disease from their cow herds.
More information on the management of the disease can be obtained from the LSU AgCenter @ http://www.lsuagcenter.com/

 

[Bradenh]

http://www.lsuagcenter.com/news_archive/2009/June/headline_news/STD+causes+problems+for+Louisiana+cattle+but+can+be+managed.htm thats the link to the exact article that its talking about listed above. everyone should read that one.. . . bulls also pass it to each other from 'gettn it on' in the pasture and that is another way it goes from bull to bull.

 

[chambero]

This is something larger cow/calf operations have been aware of for a few years now.  We have our bulls tested every couple of years.  Texas passed new regs on the sale of bulls a year or two ago.  Basically you can't buy an old bull at a sale barn for breeding purposes that hasn't been tested.  It's bad, but controllable if you only bring in virgin bulls and heifers to your herd.

 

[firesweepranch]

This is something larger cow/calf operations have been aware of for a few years now.  We have our bulls tested every couple of years.  Texas passed new regs on the sale of bulls a year or two ago.  Basically you can't buy an old bull at a sale barn for breeding purposes that hasn't been tested.  It's bad, but controllable if you only bring in virgin bulls and heifers to your herd.

Or strictly AI  ;D

 

[hamburgman]

It can be passed with AI also.

 

[txshowmom]

trich regulations can be found on the Texas Animal Health Commission website:  http://www.tahc.state.tx.us/animal_health/trich/trich.html

Press Release Feb '09:  http://www.tahc.state.tx.us/news/pr/2009/2009Feb_TrichomoniasisProgramAdopted.pdf

and updated regulations '10: http://www.tahc.state.tx.us/news/pr/2010/2010Oct_TrichRulesAdoptions.pdf

Anyone buying/selling bulls in Texas should be aware of these regulations.

 

[chambero]

I don't think so, because the bacteria live outside the penis in the sheath.  But I'm pretty sure AI studs test every bull and I doubt they would collect them if they were positive.

It's also why I have zero interest in leasing bulls

 

[Coop]

In  Okla beginning January 1,2011 all bulls moving to another farm to be used in breeding will lhave to be  tested for Trich with the exception of guaranteed virgin bulls. A friends herd was infected when the neighbors bull come visiting. It cost him half his herd.

 

[chambero]

Neighbor bull visiting is how its getting spread in our area.  You have to get rid of visitors in a hurry.

 

[Easy]

It can be passed with AI also.

It is very unlikely for trich to be passed during AI because 1) bull studs do test for it regularly if they are CSS certified and 2) the protozoa is not able to with stand the freezing process. However, studies have shown that an AI gun CAN pass it on if not properly cleaned.

 

[Rustynail]

Wow I am completely shocked how loose regulaions across the country are.  Here in Utah, every bull of breeding age must be tested and tagged with a trich negative tag every year.  It is an additional cost to test all of the bulls each spring, but well worth it.

 

[hamburgman]

Sounds like a bunch of government freedom haters are running our state governments.  If i want to have trich positive cattle and suffer the financial costs should i not be able to?  Just government interference keeping the most profitable producers from being more profitable relative to other producers.

 

[garybob]

Sounds like a bunch of government freedom haters are running our state governments.  If i want to have trich positive cattle and suffer the financial costs should i not be able to?  Just government interference keeping the most profitable producers from being more profitable relative to other producers.

yes, but when your clean sire becomes infected from a "visit" with your neighbor's Florida backgrounding heifers, it kinda takes the fun outta being in this business. I didn't have first-hand experience with "Trich", but with a mutated form of BVD that Cattlemaster-4 Vaccine didn't protect me from.

GB

 

[Rustynail]

Sounds like a bunch of government freedom haters are running our state governments.  If i want to have trich positive cattle and suffer the financial costs should i not be able to?  Just government interference keeping the most profitable producers from being more profitable relative to other producers.

No actually the government has to step in when irresponsible , uneducated ranchers with the attitude above cause devastating problems for an entire area.  I am completely sure that you would be more than happy to pay for an complete loss of a calf crop for all of your neighbors when you trich positive bull goes visiting.  Of course I hope you have a good job off the farm since you won't be having any calves either.

 

[garybob]

Sounds like a bunch of government freedom haters are running our state governments.  If i want to have trich positive cattle and suffer the financial costs should i not be able to?  Just government interference keeping the most profitable producers from being more profitable relative to other producers.

I think the people who detested the idea of Natinal ID, or even the voluntary programs of Source & Age Verification ( attached to both drug conpanies, and Breed Associations), will be the first to  laugh out loud when they spread it to their neighbors, and cry the hardest when their herd becomes infected.

GB