Infectious Bovine Keratoconjunctivitis in African Cattle: Welfare Challenges

IBK causes severe eye disease and blindness in African cattle — welfare challenges are compounded by limited veterinary access and high face fly populations.

Key Facts

• IBK affects cattle across sub-Saharan Africa with high prevalence in dry season
• Moraxella bovis and Mycoplasma species cause disease in African conditions
• Face fly populations are much higher than temperate regions, dramatically increasing spread
• Blindness from untreated IBK causes severe welfare harm including failure to find water
• Traditional treatments including home-applied eyedrops are widely practiced but variable in effectiveness

Welfare Considerations

IBK welfare challenges in African cattle systems are compounded by limited veterinary access, high face fly burdens, and cultural management practices that may not align with evidence-based treatment. Blind cattle are unable to find water and feed independently, experience predation vulnerability, and are socially excluded from herd dynamics — severe welfare outcomes that accumulate when treatment is delayed or unavailable. Community-based face fly control, early disease recognition training for farmers, and access to affordable antibiotic eye treatments through community animal health workers represent the welfare-effective intervention pathway in resource-limited settings.

What You Can Do

• Support community animal health worker programs that train farmers in early IBK recognition and treatment
• Advocate for affordable antibiotic eye preparations in rural veterinary supply chains
• Support face fly control programs in livestock communities including appropriate use of insecticides
• Train farmers to separate and provide supplementary feed and water to cattle with vision impairment
• Engage veterinary development organizations about IBK as a priority welfare and production disease in Africa