Trichomoniasis is showing up in Alberta.
The venereal disease, which is typically introduced by bulls, has been diagnosed in herds over the past two years, says Gerald Hauer, a senior veterinarian with Alberta Agriculture.
The disease can be economically devastating because it can result in a large number of cows aborting calves or failing to get pregnant.
“In the first year it is introduced it causes a lot of losses,” he said.
Bulls that test positive should be culled because treatment isn’t an option.
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“Once they are infected, they are infected for life,” Hauer said.
Cows have a better prognosis.
“It causes a temporary infertility in a cow,” he said. “She will eventually clear the infection, typically after several months, and then she will rebreed.”
The disease is caused by a parasite living in the reproductive tracts of cattle. Concerned producers should talk to their veterinarians about testing for its presence before the breeding season.
“It depends on the management of the herd whether you test everything,” Hauer said.
“Talk it over with your veterinarian and have some idea about the precautions to prevent trichomoniasis.”
The disease is transmitted when an infected bull breeds with a susceptible female.
Infected cows can spread it to virgin uninfected bulls during breeding, but this is rare.
Bulls younger than three years may clear the infection but most become long-term carriers.
The first sign of trouble is often when producers notice cows they thought were pregnant resume cycling toward the end of the breeding period. Most deliveries in infected herds are in the second half of the calving season.
In contrast, 80 percent of cows in uninfected herds calve within the first two heat cycles of the calving period if they are in good body condition and there are no other problems.
Prevention is the main emphasis, and basic biosecurity measures should be used. Recommendations from Alberta Agriculture include:
- Only use virgin bulls and heifers as replacements and use as many home-raised heifers as possible.
- Only buy confirmed pregnant heifers if outside replacements are needed.
- Maintain a limited tight breeding season.
- Keep the average bull age as young as possible.
- Test all mature bulls at least three times at weekly intervals before introducing them into the herd.
- Test all bulls in community pastures at least three times before the beginning of the breeding season.
- Monitor the breeding period to detect signs of excessive repeat breeding.
- Control other reproductive diseases such as campylobacteriosis with appropriate vaccinations.
- Perform breeding soundness exams on all bulls before turnout.
- Cull open cows at pregnancy check, and test cows that have recently aborted.
- Do not buy open cows from auction markets.
- Avoid using and/or sharing bulls with unknown herd histories.
- Maintain proper pasture fences to avoid mixing of animals from herds with unknown health status.
For those exporting breeding stock, individual states may have additional requirements regarding vaccination and/or testing for specific diseases such as trichmoniasis. Idaho, Nebraska, North and South Dakota, Colorado, California, Montana, Nevada, Utah and New Mexico require a test or veterinary certification.
