Managing infectious causes of reproductive loss in beef herds

Reproductive disease management can be easily overlooked within a beef cattle enterprise, and it requires appropriate management to minimise the impacts on productivity and profitability.

In this webinar recording, Professor Michael McGowan (University of Queensland) discusses:

• management of the two venereal infections – Vibriosis and Trichomoniasis
• the major viral cause of reproductive loss in beef herds – Pestivirus (BVDV)
• Leptospirosis – a disease that can affect both cattle and humans.

You can watch the full recording or use the playlist below to jump to the start of a particular section within the presentation. (41:48; published 18 September 2024 by FutureBeefAu).

Download a copy of the presentation – Managing infectious reproductive loss in beef herds (PDF; 2.31 MB)

Additional resources:

• Guide to animal diseases & disorders (Business Queensland – QLD Government)
• Managing infectious and non-infectious causes of calf wastage (Calf Alive symposium presentation – FutureBeef)

Vibriosis

• Reproductive disease management (FutureBeef)
• Catching a killer – Vibriosis (FutureBeef – case study)
• Vibriosis in cattle (NSW Government factsheet)
• Vibriosis (Meat & Livestock Australia)

Trichomoniasis

• Trichomonosis of cattle (NSW factsheet)
• Trichomoniasis in Northern Territory beef cattle (NT Government 2-page factsheet)
• Trichomoniasis (Meat & Livestock Australia)

Pestivirus (BVDV)

• Reproductive disease management – Pestivirus (FutureBeef)
• Bovine pestivirus infection (NSW factsheet)
• Pestivirus (Meat & Livestock Australia)

Leptospirosis

• Leptospirosis (Meat & Livestock Australia)
• Leptospirosis in cattle herds (NSW factsheet)

Full recording

Playlist

1. Managing infectious causes of reproductive loss in beef herds
2. What we will cover – Vibriosis, Trichomoniasis, Pestivirus and Leptospirosis
3. Causes of calf wastage are BOTH non-infectious and infectious
4. Primary source of infection
5. Planned and unplanned movements of cattle
6. Venereal infections (motile microorganisms -Vibrio and Trich)
7. Venereal infections (Vibrio and Trich)
8. Signs of abortion
9. Testing for Trich and Vibrio
10. Cash Cow project findings
11. Trich survey
12. Current control of venereal infections
13. Pestivirus (BVDV)
14. Pestivirus can spread quickly
15. Myth – all PI cattle are ‘poor-doers’
16. Introduction of pregnant females = risky business
17. Transmission via blood feeding insects
18. Pestivirus immune status can vary considerably
19. Syndromes caused by or associated with Pestivirus infection
20. Mucosal disease – only occurs in PI cattle
21. Options for the control of Pestivirus
22. Leptospirosis
23. Vaccinating cattle – you are buying insurance
24. Close