Prevalence of trichomoniasis in Oklahoma beef bulls

Abstract

Between November 1977 and June 1978, 280 beef bulls for sale at an auction in central Oklahoma, USA, were examined for Tritrichomonas foetus infection by a swab culture technique. Over-all 7.8% were infected, including 7.8, 11.6 and 14.6% of 4-, 5- and 6-year-olds, respectively. The prevalence in Brahmans was 14.6%, in Angus 10.3% and in Hereford bulls 5.6%. It is estimated that in Oklahoma bovine trichomoniasis, by reducing the calving rate, causes an annual economic loss of $5 million; this becomes $7 million if estimates of related production costs are included.