Pinkeye caused by Moraxella bovis is a painful ocular condition in cattle causing significant welfare impacts and productivity losses, preventable through fly control and vaccination.
Cattle with keratoconjunctivitis experience acute ocular pain causing blepharospasm, excessive tearing, and photophobia. Corneal ulceration causes severe pain with affected animals seeking shade and reducing feed intake. Untreated cases can progress to corneal perforation and permanent blindness in one or both eyes. Blind cattle face ongoing welfare impacts from reduced foraging ability, increased fall risk, and social disadvantage. The condition is preventable through fly control and partially preventable through vaccination.