Infectious keratoconjunctivitis (pink eye) prevention through fly control, vaccination, and management reduces the significant suffering from this common and painful eye condition in cattle.
Preventing IBK is far better welfare than treating it. Once corneal ulceration develops, the animal experiences significant pain until healing occurs or the condition progresses to rupture and permanent blindness. Prevention through face fly control removes the primary transmission mechanism. Vaccination reduces the pathogen load available to cause infection. Management changes including reducing dust exposure and mowing tall grass near cattle reduce environmental risk factors. A comprehensive prevention program that substantially reduces IBK incidence prevents multiple episodes of painful corneal disease across the herd annually, representing meaningful aggregate welfare improvement.