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Pinkeye prevention in cattle
Cattle producers need to be on the lookout for pinkeye. This highly infectious disease causes watery eyes, inflammation and redness, white spots in the eyes, and can lead to blindness. South Dakota State University Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist, Ken Olson, says that the causes are in the environment.
“It’s pretty much everywhere,” Olson explains, “so the opportunity for pinkeye always exists.”
UV radiation from the sun, tall grass, dust, and face flies are all irritants that can cause the disease. Prevention is critical to keep pinkeye out of a herd with vaccinations in the spring and extensive fly control all summer. Olson also suggests clipping tall pastures and providing shade. There is a four-step treatment available should pinkeye infect cattle.
Olson suggests, “Do at least two of this four-step process of the antibacterial powder, the long-acting antibiotic systemically to the animal, the patch over the eye, and the penicillin class of product into the inner membrane of the eye.”
Olsen also reminds cattle producers to use vaccinations before the outbreak of pinkeye and to be aggressive and proactive when treating pinkeye to prevent the spread of the disease throughout the whole herd.
AUDIO: Ken Olson, South Dakota State University Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist (12:30) mp3
Tags: Animal/Plant Diseases, Cattle/Beef, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Pinkeye, South Dakota
I will agree with your comments but would like to add that there is a pinkeye seen in Arkansas during the winter months when flies are not present. It has presented itself in well vaccinated herds and the commercially available vaccines appear to be failing.
Each producer should have cultures pulled and an autogenous vaccine prepared. The vaccine can also be used in other herds. We currently have been seeing Moraxella bovis, Moraxella bovoculi and also a Mycoplasma bovoculi. This combination currently appears to be working well. We did not get good results until we added the Mycoplasma.