Overview: Welfare analysis of infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK), a painful and common eye disease in cattle.
Key Welfare Facts
IBK causes severe corneal ulceration, photophobia, and intense pain that significantly reduces feed intake.
Moraxella bovis and Moraxella bovoculi are the primary bacterial causes, spread by face flies between animals.
Untreated IBK can progress to corneal perforation and permanent blindness in severely affected animals.
Treatment with long-acting oxytetracycline combined with topical antibiotics has good efficacy when applied early.
Face fly control reduces transmission dramatically, lowering both disease incidence and treatment costs.
Temporary eye patches protect ulcerated corneas from sunlight and irritation during recovery.
Welfare Assessment
IBK causes intense acute pain and risks permanent visual impairment. Early detection through daily cattle observation, prompt treatment, and face fly control are essential welfare interventions that prevent unnecessary suffering and vision loss.
What You Can Do
Train stockpeople to recognise early signs of eye disease and treat promptly
Implement face fly control programmes to reduce IBK transmission within herds
Seek veterinary advice on appropriate antibiotic and anti-inflammatory protocols for IBK
Monitor recovery closely and re-treat animals that fail to improve within 48 hours