Since the first of the year Arkansas has had an explosion of Trichimoniasis cases in bulls. In talking to Dr. Pat Badley, Arkansas’ state veterinarian, he informed Ozarks Farm & Neighbor of 50+ confirmed cases in northwest Arkansas. In Oklahoma they have had 45 positive cases in northeastern Oklahoma, also. Therefore, you can see the alarming rate of infection in our area.
With 50+ cases of Trichimoniasis in northwest Arkansas and 45 cases in northeast Oklahoma, Dr. Badley has implemented a new law under emergency conditions to help clean up this disease. We now have a law to test a bull for Trich at change of ownership. The only bulls that are exempt from this testing is if the owner and his veterinarian can certify that he is a virgin and is under age of sexual activity. Both the owner and his veterinarian have to sign a statement certifying this virginity.
Trich can cause a pregnancy wastage of anywhere from 20 percent to 100 percent of your calf crop. This pregnancy wastage is a major economic loss to the producer. Even though the cows will self clear within 6 months of infection, you will be put behind 6 months in getting a return out of your cows. There is also a thought that we could have a few carrier cows, which will not clean up in the 4-6 months. This is why I recommend pregnancy examining your cows when an infected bull is diagnosed in the herd.
Yes, there is a vaccine, but it will not clear the infected cows. It will help prevent at least about 80 percent of the infection at a cost of $5.00 per dose. And the first time you give the vaccine it must be boostered within 2-4 weeks. This will make the cost to the producer $10.00 per head the first year and then add $5.00 per head every year after that. This is why I say test your bulls and preg check your cows. It makes more economic sense to cull open cows and replenish with pregnant cows to eliminate the disease from your herd. With this culling you are not waiting for a return from your cows for 15 months to 2 years.
If we have a bull that does test positive, his only treatment is to be sold for slaughter only. And with this new law, these bulls at the sale barn are shipped to the slaughter plant under a restricted permit, Form vs. 127. This permit is only good for that bull to go to the slaughter plant on the form. This bull can not be moved anywhere else and he is confirmed slaughtered by the vet at the slaughter plant.
This new law sounds like a lot of trouble for the Arkansas cattleman, but it is for his protection from this nasty disease.
Dr. Tim O’Neill owns Country Veterinary Clinic in Farmington, Ark.
