Trich still brings challenges to beef producers after 130 years

Trichomoniasis, or trich, is a protozoan organism transmitted from bull to female or female to bull by sexual contact. There is currently no treatment for trich and, with a fluctuating market for beef, it’s a disease producers can’t afford to ignore. Trich can have an impact on many components of herd health but mostly affects these three areas:

Richard Linhart

Senior Technical Services Veterinarian / Vaxxinova

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Reduces calf crop up to 50 percent due to early embryonic loss or abortion
Shifts pregnancy/calving pattern, resulting in lighter weaning weights and more open cows
Infects cattle, which can lead to the need for culling and replacing, affecting valued farm-grown genetics from your herd

Trich is a stealthy disease that often is not apparent until cows are preg-checked, making it difficult to put interventions in place to stop the progression of the disease once it is established.

While clinical signs may not be observed, bulls are the carriers of trich and spread it to cows during breeding. It is difficult to detect in infected cows, as they show no outward signs of infection; however, reproductive failures such as infertility, low pregnancy rates, abortions and pyometra are indicators of infection.

And while cows may be able to clear themselves of the disease in two to four months, bulls will continue to carry and spread trich each time they breed a cow.

Biosecurity crucial in minimizing trich risk

In order to minimize the risk of trich, producers should have a strong biosecurity management program in place. Animals have an increased risk for trich exposure as herds are unintentionally commingled, which can happen when bulls escape from a pasture or when herds graze together. This is common in grazing associations in the Western states.

Since older bulls are more likely to be infected with or carry trich, producers can minimize their risk by keeping their bull battery at 4 years old or younger. It’s also recommended to avoid purchasing or introducing untested non-virgin bulls or open non-virgin females, as the addition of virgin heifers or pregnant cows will reduce the likelihood of trich introduction.

Additionally, test all bulls at the end of the breeding season, optimally after two to three weeks of sexual rest.

Regulations rising

While some beef producers have voiced concern over the increased regulations regarding trichomoniasis, they have become essential to help monitor and control the disease. Producers have the ability to know now more than ever if their herd is at high risk for the disease. Cattle today are so much more mobile than ever before. It’s common for cattle to be trucked, or even flown, across the nation, so regulations, biosecurity and consistent testing are key.

To know if your herd is at a higher risk level, it’s important to know which states are commonly impacted by trich and its regulations. Producers with little to no understanding of trich are 3.3 times more likely to have an infected bull. I strongly suggest visiting Trich Consult to increase your knowledge of the disease.

It takes more than vaccination

Currently, there is one vaccine available that has been proven to reduce the shedding of T. foetus, the disease-causing organism, thereby helping to reduce the spread of infection throughout the herd. But just like any vaccination, it cannot replace good management practices.

To reduce the risk of introducing trich into your herd, work with your veterinarian to implement the best biosecurity and vaccination program for your operation and geographical area. Don’t assume one bad year’s pregnancy results are due solely to bad nutrition – test your bulls each and every year, especially if your herd is in a high-risk area.

While it can be a daunting task, record-keeping is crucial. In a large ranch with multiple breeding pastures, you’ve got to know which cows and bulls have been in each pasture. Eartags and other identification systems are helpful to keep track of the location of bulls and cows.

While this disease continues to challenge the beef industry after 130 years, we are taking steps to win the battle. Current university research is being conducted in two areas: the development of novel treatment protocols for bulls infected with trichomoniasis and the study of factors that impact the ability of the trich organisms to persist in bulls.