How Does Trichomoniasis Affect a Cattle Herd?
Some indications that your herd may be experiencing a problem with trichomoniasis: • Repeated breeding that results in long, drawn-out breeding and calving seasons. • A high percentage of open cows at pregnancy examination, or detection of a wide range of gestational ages. Most embryonic/fetal losses occur during the first trimester; late term abortions are not common with trichomoniasis. Therefore, most reproductive losses are detected during pregnancy examination or the calving season. • Pyometra(s) detected at pregnancy examination; this typically occurs in less than 5 percent of animals. • Bulls show no clinical signs but can become chronic carriers. • Cows and heifers will rarely show a very mild vaginal discharge, but this is usually never noticed. Therefore, like the bull, there are typically no initial clinical signs that a cow or heifer is infected with T. foetus. • Cows and heifers can usually clear the infection in 2 to 6 months (sometimes longer), but usually not before sus
