Remember to Test Your Herd for Trich

The Colorado Department of Ag reminds cattle owners to test their herd for Bovine Trichomoniasis. Ranchers who co-mingle their herds have a higher risk for trich; one way to reduce the risk of this disease is to test bulls annually. Colorado State Veterinarian Dr. Keith Roehr says trich is a costly, yet preventable, infection that can affect both dairy and beef cattle. If bulls become infected, the percentage of open cows can increase from 5 to 30 percent. He continues
Roehr: “The number one means of producers having trich coming into an herd is through adult bulls. So anytime they buy a bull, it is a state requirement that they be tested. Another risky practice is buying open cows. So cows that are purchased at market or other places that are not bred or don’t have a calf by their side can be carrying trich and could come into the herd. Those are the two most current ways. Then egress or ingress of bulls either cross the fence or I think a lot of time we think it is a neighbor’s bull crossing in to our herd. When in reality it is this time of year its those bulls that we aren’t paying attention that could be exposed to cows that continue to cycle because they have trich.”
So far this year, there have been eight new positive trich herds in Colorado.