The trick for cattlemen in Idaho is controlling trich.  Trichomoniasis, commonly referred to as "Trich", is a continuing problem among cowherds in Idaho. This disease is a venereal disease transmitted at breeding and results in early embryonic death and abortion of the fetus. This can cause devastating economic setbacks for cattle producers.

Often, the first sign of Trich is open cows or cows calving significantly late, says Dr. Bill Barton Chief Veterinarian for the State of Idaho: We were actually the first state in the U.S. to institute rules to govern trichomoniasis in the U.S. An infected bull transmits the disease to the cow at breeding; she then aborts the fetus early in pregnancy and ultimately comes into heat later in the breeding season. If she becomes pregnant late in the season, her resulting calf will be smaller than its peers. In some cases, the cow may not conceive again and she will not deliver a calf that year. While cows can clear the disease on their own, infected bulls are considered carriers for the remainder of their life. Maintaining fences is an important step in herd management. Although no fence is cattle-proof, they serve the purpose of keeping potentially infected animals away from a clean herd. A vaccination called TrichGuard^® can reduce the economic toll that Trich can take on your herd.