More States Moving Towards Standardize Trich Testing

Jamie JohansenAg Group, Animal Health, Cattle, Reproduction

Screen Shot 2015-05-14 at 7.56.54 AMIn late 2014, the U.S. Animal Health Association (USAHA) endorsed three standard components of interstate regulations and testing for trichomoniasis (trich):

– Virgin bulls up to 18 months of age will be exempt from trich testing requirements.
– A negative trich test is valid for 60 days after collection if the bull is held separate from females.
– A single, negative DNA amplification-based test of samples collected by a U.S. Department of Agriculture Category II Accredited Veterinarian certified by the state of origin to collect trich samples for interstate movement.

In the first quarter of 2015, Marty Zaluski, D.V.M., state veterinarian for the Montana Department of Livestock, conducted a survey to determine whether states are moving toward meeting trich standards endorsed by USAHA. Results show 11 additional states intend to harmonize interstate regulations and testing for trich.

Thermo Fisher Scientific, a company with deep expertise in animal diagnostics, held a question-and-answer session with Zaluski to discuss results of the recent survey and his views on the importance of standardizing trich regulations and testing across the country.

Those questions and answers can be found here.