Area cattle producers have been, or currently are, making plans for the 2010 breeding season.

This time of the year livestock magazines and newspapers are full of advertisements for bulls being offered for sale.

Many producers with small herds, or a limited number of cows, contact neighboring cattlemen in order to borrow or lease a bull for the breeding season.

Regardless of the size of the cow herd, the number of bulls needed, or the method that bulls are secured for breeding purposes, producers are reminded that some new state requirements related to breeding bulls became effective January 1, 2010.

Texas bulls that undergo a change of ownership (except to slaughter) must be either certified as virgin bulls or tested for cattle Trichomoniasis.

Cattle Trichomoniasis is a venereal disease of cattle. It is caused by a protozoan that is carried by infected bulls.

As bulls become older, conditions become more favorable for the organism to thrive. Trichomoniasis, or Trich as it is often called, is transmitted from infected bulls to cows through breeding.

This protozoal disease can cause cows to abort very early in pregnancy and become temporarily infertile.

Infected females can spread Trich to uninfected bulls, causing a domino effect in the cow herd.

Most of the time, the majority of infected cows will clear Trich infections if given 120 - 150 days of sexual rest. Although the infection can clear in cows, it does not go away in bulls.

There is no approved Trich treatment or vaccine for bulls.

Trichomoniasis infections result in extended breeding seasons, diminished calf crops, and loss of income.

Bulls infected by the protozoa appear and act normal. Only testing will confirm the presence or absence of the disease-causing protozoa. The first phase in combating Trichomoniasis in Texas was implemented last April.

Regulations were developed and put in place for breeding bulls entering Texas from other states.

These regulations included testing and a process to certify virgin bulls less than 24 months of age.

Beginning January 1 of this year, requirements for breeding bulls changing possession in the state were initiated.

In a nutshell, this second phase requires that Texas breeding bulls offered for sale, lease, exchange, loan or otherwise changing hands for breeding be certified as virgin bulls or be tested negative prior to changing possession.

The breeder may certify breeding bulls until the animals are 24 months old.

Non-virgin or older bulls must be tested by an accredited veterinarian.

Basically, the regulation is comprised of three steps: identificationcertification testing.

Bulls not certified as virgins or older breeding bulls that are untested may be sold only to slaughter.

These newly implemented regulations are designed to protect Texas cattle against the introduction and the spread of cattle Trichomoniasis.

Kleberg/Kenedy cattle producers are encouraged to learn more about these recently implemented regulations by obtaining the TAHC Trich fact sheet from the Kleberg/Kenedy AgriLife Extension Office, 729 East Yoakum, Kingsville, or accessing it on-line from the commission’s website: www.tahc. state.tx.us