DES MOINES, Iowa — A second case of bovine trichomoniasis has been found in the state, this time in a south-central Iowa herd where five of the six bulls tested positive on June 1 for the venereal disease, according to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS).

“Bovine trichomoniasis is a reportable disease in Iowa and must be reported to our office,” said David Schmitt, state veterinarian with the IDALS. While there are no clinical signs of illness in bulls with the disease, it can be spread to cows and cause infertility, he added.

The first known case of the disease in the state was discovered in two bulls in southwestern Iowa in May. The IDALS had issued an order of quarantine for the facility where the disease was found, which will remain in place until further testing confirms it is no longer present in the herd.

This is the first known case of the disease in Iowa, IDALS said, but there have been more than 200 cases in Missouri. The IDALS is encouraging farmers buying bulls to “make sure the animals are tested for the disease before being introduced into the herd, or to purchase virgin bulls.”

Herds that contract this disease can have a 40-60 percent open rate caused by infertility and early embryonic death, Schmitt said. The two herds that were identified with the disease were being examined because of the high open rate the cows had this past calving season, he added.

Grant Dewell, Iowa State University extension beef veterinarian, told Brownfield Network that “typically, they’ve had a fairly normal pregnancy rate, but (in one herd), it was down to less than 80 percent calving rate this year.

“The second herd that just came up positive only had about 30 percent of their cows get pregnant,” he said. “So it’s one of those situations where you’ve basically lost a breeding season on those cattle.”

He added it’s important that producers know where their breeding stock is coming from and the possible health issues in those herds.

“We need to be really on the ball here to make sure that we’re testing herds that are at risk,” Dewell said. “Producers shouldn’t buy open cows in the next few years and be very careful on their new bulls – either buy virgin bulls, or have those bulls tested prior to the breeding season.”

Iowa Cattlemen’s Assoc. officials said the reemergence of the disease this month is likely due to “increased movement of breeding animals across the country.”