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Pinkeye costs U.S. cattle producers $150 million annually
Arkansas
Pinkeye, or infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis, is a disease of cattle caused by bacteria.
It's estimated that pinkeye costs producers nationwide $150 million each year and affects nearly 10 million head of cattle. These losses are related to unthrifty condition with poor feeding habits--because of the pain--and they also take into account treatment and handling costs associated with this disease.
Pinkeye typically affects cattle during the warmer months. Increased exposure to UV light, face flies, dusty environment and plant seed heads encourages the disease.
These factors and increased eye irritation make cows more vulnerable to the disease. Increased irritation often leads to increased tears, which attracts face flies. The flies move from animal to animal, regardless of age, spreading disease bacteria. One or both eyes may become infected.
Symptoms associated with pinkeye include redness, excessive watery discharge, conjunctivitis, or inflammation of the eye lining and a cloudy or hazy cornea that appears blue to white. Color change usually appears in the center of the eye, and an ulcer may develop there.
In severe cases, the ulceration can penetrate completely through the entire cornea. This can allow the tissue from the inner eye to slip out of the opening. When this occurs, permanent blindness is usually inevitable. Cattle with pinkeye tend to keep the affected eye closed because of pain associated with bright sunlight.
Infected animals experience poor vision, blindness and weight gain. Their performance can decline.
Treatment for pinkeye usually includes using antibiotics and controlling factors such as ultraviolet light, tall grass and flies. Penicillins or tetracyclines are effective at killing the bacteria. An injection of penicillin or ampicillin with an anti-inflammatory can be administered
under the lining of the affected eyelid (subconjunctival) and repeated every three to four days.
Oxytetracycline can be used systemically at 20 milligrams per kilogram-IM; however, it should not be used as a subconjunctival injection.
Attempts should be made to control fly populations with organophosphate or pyrethroid insecticides. Controlling flies with ear tags, dust bags, sprays or pour-ons will limit the exposure for the rest of the herd.
Mowing tall grass in the pasture will help decrease the opportunity for cattle to get grass or weed seed in their eyes, thereby reducing the irritation and the development of disease.
Shade should be available for animals suffering from pinkeye. Bright sunlight will only exacerbate this problem. Recovery from this disease can be slow, and many times the cornea may retain a permanent discoloration.
Vaccines are also available for use in preventing pinkeye. Some vaccines require a booster dose to be effective during the first year of use. Vaccination will help limit the number of outbreaks in a herd but may not completely eliminate pinkeye from occurring.
For more information about pinkeye and other diseases of cattle, contact your county Extension agent. The Cooperative Extension Service is part of the U of A Division of Agriculture.
Date: 6/23/05
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