Incidence of Tritrichomonas foetus in young replacement bulls following introduction into an infected herd.
Three hundred 8-year-old Shorthorn and Santa Gertrudis bulls, with a 47% incidence of Tritrichomonas foetus infection in the 30 surveyed, were removed from a herd of approximately 6000 cows and replaced by 325 two-year-old Brahman bulls. A sample of 50 of the replacement bulls was examined at introduction and found to be uninfected. After 2 years, the incidence of infection in a sample of 80 of the replacement bulls was 4%. The results suggests that a major reduction in incidence of infection in extensively managed herds might be achieved by the exclusive use of young bulls for mating.
D000367:Age Factors; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D002353:Carrier State / Q000662:veterinary; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D011528:Protozoan Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D011529:Protozoan Infections, Animal; D014318:Tritrichomonas