News

Trich confirmed in four SD herds

Trich has been diagnosed in some South Dakota cattle herds, “We have four confirmed herds that have been diagnosed with bovine trichomoniasis,” says assistant state vet Mendel Miller who tells Brownfield Ag News the cases began last November with two herds in Ogalalla Lakota County, a case in December in the Corson/Ziebach county area and most recently in Dewey County.  Miller says ranchers in those areas have been notified.

He tells Brownfield Ag News, “With the exception of maybe one or two people that we’ve left messages for and not actually spoken to, we’ve contacted all neighboring contact herds. So, if they haven’t gotten a call from the animal industry board they’re probably not a contact herd or a neighbor herd. However, they can take their own steps and test their own herds to make sure they don’t have an issue they’re not aware of.”

Miller says the South Dakota Animal Industry Board has rules in place for trich prevention which has greatly reduced cases since they peaked in 2005 and ’06. Miller says this is a spike in trich cases – and urges the purchase of virgin bulls for breeding.

AUDIO: Interview with Mendel Miller