New Year Means New Regulation For Texas Cattle

Courtesy of Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association

Thinking about selling, leasing, bartering or even giving away a breeding bull? Beginning Jan. 1, Texas bulls that undergo a change of ownership (except to slaughter) must be either certified as a virgin bull or be tested first for cattle trichomoniasis, a protozoal disease that can cause cows to abort very early in pregnancy.

Infected bulls carry the microscopic "bug" that causes trichomoniasis without any signs and can transmit the single-celled protozoa to cows during breeding. 

"There is no effective treatment for bulls, and once infected, they can continue to spread trichomoniasis when they breed," said Dr. Dee Ellis, who, on Jan. 1, became Texas' new state veterinarian and head of the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC), the state's livestock and poultry health regulatory agency. "Infected cows may clear the infection, but only if they are given rest from breeding for 120-150 days—an expensive option, as a calf crop will be missed. A vaccine also is available to help in the management of infected cows, but it will not prevent infection."

The country's western states have long-standing cattle trichomoniasis regulations. About two years ago, the Texas ranching industry requested similar regulations to protect against the introduction and the spread of cattle trichomoniasis, or "trich."

Representatives from the state's ranching, marketing and veterinary industries have worked with the TAHC to develop effective regulations to control the disease, which affects herd productivity and an operation's bottom line. In April 2009, the TAHC enacted requirements for bulls entering Texas. In-state regulations were delayed until Jan. 1, 2010.

To read entire article, visit the TSCRA web site.

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