Under ideal conditions healthy cattle can fight off an infection from pinkeye-causing bacteria. However when an animals eyes become irritated, from things such as dust, tall grass or flies, it allows the infection to take hold. We find this a particular problem with our bulls as when they are all together in the one mob they are constantly ‘play’ fighting & stirring up a lot of dust.
While there are several treatments available for pinkeye the main prevention prospect –the Coopers Piliguard vaccine, hasn’t proved to be the magic bullet we had all hoped for. While the vaccine protects cattle against Moraxella bovisa recent research has confirmed another microbe called Moraxella bovoculi is also associated with pinkeye infections. This explains why Piliguard has had mixed success in preventing outbreaks so far. Hopefully with this recent research a more effective pinkeye vaccination can be developed in the near future.
In the mean time we have vaccinated all of our stud calves again this year with the original Piliguard vaccine, although we know we will still have problems they could be a lot worse if we don’t do anything at all.