March 1, 2013
US cattle herd affected by venereal bovine disease
The South Dakota Animal Industry Board has reported confirmed cases of a bovine venereal disease in a Dewey County cattle herd in Oklahoma, US.
Bovine trichomoniasis is transmitted between cows and bulls during breeding season. The disease can cause cows to spontaneously abort their calves and become infertile. The discovery of the disease could be financially devastating to some cattle ranchers. Up to half of the cows in an infected herd could lose their calves.
Last year, North Dakota tightened import rules in hopes of protecting cattle from the disease. An Iowa facility was quarantined after two bulls there tested positive, and more than 200 cases were detected in Missouri.
The disease is usually spread by infected bulls.
