Bovine trichomoniasis is a disease in cattle that affects reproduction and prevents calves from being carried to full term. In recent years, the disease has become more prevalent in New Mexico. New Mexico State University’s Chaves County Cooperative Extension Service is hosting an educational program on March 29 in Roswell to help area cattle producers identify the disease and learn how to prevent it.

The free program is from 1p.m. to 3 p.m. and will be held in the Farm Bureau Building at the Eastern New Mexico State Fairgrounds. A free barbeque lunch will be provided before the program begins.

Sandra Barraza, Extension agricultural agent, said John Wenzel, an NMSU Extension veterinarian, will talk during the program about how to identify the symptoms of the disease, how it spreads, how to test for it and what vaccinations are available.

“Having bovine trichomoniasis in cattle equates to a loss in revenue for producers because their cattle are not giving birth to a live calf to raise and ultimately to be sold,” Barraza said. “We want the people who attend this program to gain knowledge about this disease and to learn what they need to do to either maintain a disease-free herd or how to recognize the disease in their livestock so they can work toward having a disease-free herd.”

The New Mexico Livestock Board has adopted more stringent testing requirements for all breeding cattle, Barraza said, and that information will be available at the program for producers.

There will be time after the presentation to ask questions.

The barbeque lunch will be provided at noon, courtesy of Paul’s Veterinary Supply. The educational program will start immediately after lunch.

Anyone interested in attending the program needs to call Barraza by March 24, so she has an idea of how many people to prepare for.

Anyone with questions can call Barraza at the Extension office at (575) 622-3210 or email [email protected].