A Clinical, Evidence-based Approach to Infectious Causes of Infertility in Beef Cattle

Infertility is the diminished or absent capacity to produce viable offspring. Infections that reduce ovulation rates, fertilization rates, embryonic survival rates, fetal survival rates or perinatal survival rates result in observed infertility in beef cows. Reproductive pathogens include Leptospira, Campylobacter, Hemophilus, Brucella, bovine herpesvirus-1, bovine viral diarrhea virus, Tritrichomonas foetus, and Neospora caninum. Infectious infertility can be prevented or controlled with appropriate surveillance, biosecurity, and/or vaccination. The objective of this review is to briefly summarize current scientific information to assist with adoption of surveillance methods, implementation of biosecurity and selection of appropriate commercially available vaccines.