Infectious Bovine Keratoconjunctivitis Welfare in Cattle

Infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis, commonly called pinkeye, is one of the most prevalent and painful cattle diseases worldwide, causing corneal ulceration and temporary or permanent blindness if untreated.

Key Facts

Moraxella bovis is the primary causative bacterium transmitted by face flies
Prevalence in beef cattle herds can reach 10-20% during summer peak seasons
Affected animals show excessive tearing, photophobia, and corneal clouding within 24-48 hours
Untreated cases can progress to corneal perforation and permanent vision loss
Economic losses include reduced weight gain, treatment costs, and welfare penalties at sale
Face fly control through insecticides and fly traps significantly reduces transmission
Vaccination is available but provides incomplete protection due to antigenic variation

Welfare Considerations

Pinkeye causes significant acute pain and distress, with affected animals separating from the herd, reducing grazing time, and experiencing weight loss. Bright sunlight exacerbates discomfort, making management in shaded areas important during recovery. Prompt treatment with antibiotic injections, eye patches to reduce UV exposure, and fly control substantially reduces the duration of suffering. Welfare assessments should include eye health scoring as a routine outcome measure. The condition is highly preventable through proactive fly management, making it a case where producer investment in prevention yields both welfare and economic returns.

What You Can Do

Support adoption of fly control and welfare outcome monitoring on cattle farms
Advocate for pinkeye prevalence to be included in on-farm welfare auditing schemes
Choose beef from producers who implement proactive health management programs
Raise awareness among producers that early treatment significantly reduces welfare impact and costs