Reproductive Diseases
Dairy Cattle Disease

Disease description

Reproductive failure is the costliest health problem for dairies, and several viruses and bacteria can contribute to these losses.

Vibriosis – or genital campylobacteriosis – is a venereal disease that is spread from cow to bull and bull to cow during breeding. Although artificial insemination has significantly reduced the incidence of vibrio in dairy herds, the disease can be spread through a contaminated pipette or semen. Vibrio often destroys the embryo at its earliest stages, necessitating repeated breeding.

Leptospirosis or “lepto” is found worldwide, but is most common in warm, wet climates. It is shed in the urine and/or bodily fluids of infected animals. Research shows that Lepto hardjo-bovis  is the most common cause of bovine leptospirosis in the United States and is frequently associated with reproductive losses, although an infected animal may not show clinical signs. When vaccinating for leptospirosis, it’s important to make sure your vaccine contains a L. hardjo-bovis strain.

Two viruses – bovine herpesvirus Type 1 or BHV-1, also called IBR, and BVD Type 1 and Type 2 – significantly affect reproductive performance, in addition to causing respiratory disease. IBR causes infectious vulvovaginitis and balanposthitis (IPV-IPB), which can result in abortion or neonatal disease.

BVD infection causes different outcomes depending on when the cow is infected.

• At breeding: can interfere with fertilization
• Days 42-100 of gestation: fetal death
• Days 42-100 of gestation: infection with a non-cytopathic strain of BVD can result in a weak or persistently infected calf that becomes an ongoing source of infection to other cattle
• Days 100-150 of gestation: congenital defects

Haemophilus somnus is a bacteria that has both respiratory and reproductive effects, including abortion and sterility.

Clinical signs

Most reproductive disease is sub-clinical, so cattle rarely appear “sick.” Abortion, stillbirth, lower conception rates and strung out breeding periods are strong indicators of reproductive disease, and reduced milk production can also indicate infection.

Disease prevention

A comprehensive pre-breeding vaccination program will help maximize reproductive performance.

Vib Shield® Plus L5 is a “one shot” product that can be used to protect the breeding herd against both vibriosis and five common strains of lepto. Vib Shield Plus L5 is made with Novartis’ exclusive XTend® SP adjuvant that maintains higher and longer-lasting immune stimulation. A single injection 2-4 weeks prior to breeding helps stop reproductive diseases that upset breeding schedules.

New Vira Shield 6+L5 HB  is the first and only inactivated vaccine available in combination with L. hardjo-bovis, which is a common cause of bovine leptospirosis in the United States and frequently associated with reproductive losses. It contains three BVD isolates – cytopathic (CP) Type 1 and noncytopathic (NCP) Type 1 and NCP Type 2 –  which are important for complete BVD protection. It also protects against IBR, BRSV, PI3 and Haemophilus somnus, when Vira Shield 6+L5 HB Somnus is chosen. The Xtend® adjuvant boosts the duration of immunity. Other Vira Shield combinations are available that include vibrio protection.