Infectious Bovine Keratoconjunctivitis: Welfare and Treatment

Key Facts

• IBK is primarily caused by Moraxella bovis and spread by face flies (Musca autumnalis) during summer
• Clinical signs progress from excessive tearing and photophobia to corneal ulceration and opacity
• Without treatment, severe cases develop corneal perforation and permanent blindness in 5-10% of cases
• Early systemic antibiotic treatment (oxytetracycline, florfenicol) is effective when started promptly
• Eye patches provide pain relief and UV protection, significantly improving recovery rates

Welfare Considerations

IBK causes significant animal suffering. The corneal ulceration is intensely painful — affected cattle often have their eye firmly shut, show photophobia, and lose condition from pain-induced inappetence. The condition has a welfare cascade: affected animals lose their position in the social hierarchy, cannot compete for feed, and are more vulnerable to predator-like threats in the environment. Eye patching provides both pain relief (by reducing light sensitivity) and mechanical protection, and should be considered standard welfare management alongside antibiotics. Prevention through face fly control is the most cost-effective long-term strategy.

What You Can Do

• Apply eye patches to affected animals immediately alongside antibiotic treatment for pain relief
• Treat all cases promptly — IBK responds well to early antibiotic treatment
• Implement face fly control during peak fly season using pour-on insecticides or fly traps
• Vaccinate in high-risk herds using autogenous Moraxella bovis vaccines where available
• Separate affected animals if social competition is preventing them from eating and drinking