Economic losses caused by Neosporosis in beef and dairy cattle

Besides abortions and infected calves, herds infected with Neosporosis experience losses through:

1. Reduced milk production
   There may be direct loss of milk production associated with abortion but due to extended calving interval the total milk yield during the production life of the cow will be reduced. Even in the absence of abortion a decreased milk production has been noted in seropositive cows. In some cases 3-4% reduction in milk yield has been observed.
   
2. Poor reproductive performance
   Experimental infection with N. caninum has been shown to cause high level of embryo mortality. There is no clear information about the extent of embryo losses in field conditions due to N.caninum.
   
3. Increased culling rate
   A higher culling rate of N. caninum sero-positive cows is associated with abortion and decreased milk production.
   
4. Reduced post-weaning weight gain and feed conversion efficacy
   Significant decreases in post weaning weight gain, carcass weight and economic return has been associated with beef calves that are seropositive for Neosporosis.