How Pinkeye Affects You?
While the incidence and severity of pinkeye may vary year on year, one thing remains constant, it’s a frustrating and time consuming disease to treat.
When an outbreak occurs your daily routine can include the hassle of:
- Identifying diseased animals
- Re-mustering and yarding (which in itself can cause further outbreaks)
- Treating the infection
The Production Challenges of Pinkeye
Pinkeye prevalence may vary on individual farms from year to year. One of the greatest challenges of pinkeye is the significant impact on farm productivity.
Productivity losses can include:
- A reduction of between 3-5% in sale weights of affected young stock1
- Decreased milk production
- Negative effect on heifer fertility2
- An increase in the death rate of weaners1
All stock under 2 years old are highly susceptible to pinkeye. These are also your most valuable animals into the future and should be protected from pinkeye.
Economic Cost of Pinkeye
Pinkeye is estimated to cost Australian beef producers over $23 million in lost production and treatment costs annually1. The real cost of pinkeye can be much greater because cattle that have been affected by pinkeye have a far greater chance of being downgraded and rejected at sale time. This reduced market access is critical to producers.
Animals that are showing signs of pinkeye infection or scarring can be:
- Rejected by many feedlots
- Discounted at saleyards
- Not attractive to stud operators
Prevention of Pinkeye
Pinkeye prevention rather than treatment is the ideal situation. Good pinkeye prevention should include an integrated approach.
- Vaccination with Piliguard® 3-6 weeks prior to the expected onset of the pinkeye season
- Application of Coopers® Easy-Dose at the onset of the fly season will control nuisance flies and limit spread of pinkeye between animals
- Avoiding the yarding of animals in dry, dusty conditions
- Prompt segregation and treatment of any pinkeye affected animals
Advantages of Vaccinating for Pinkeye
Vaccinating cattle with Piliguard® is a better way of fighting pinkeye on your property:
- Piliguard reduces the incidence and severity of the disease
- Pinkeye is often well advanced before animals are treated and as such animals often don’t respond well to treatment
- Piliguard reduces the need for antibiotics
- Piliguard can be administered during normal farm activities (e.g. drenching, calf marking)
- Piliguard reduces the need for yarding cattle in hot, dusty conditions to treat affected animals, thus reducing risk of further spread of pinkeye
| Packaging | Available in 100 mL (50 doses) or 20 mL (10 doses) vials |
| Vaccination | Vaccinate animals at least 3-6 weeks prior to expected onset of the pinkeye season |
| Dose Rate | A single 2 mL dose is given by subcutaneous or intramuscular injection to all classes of cattle |
| Storage | Store at 2-8 degrees Celsius (refrigerate, do not freeze) Opened product should be used within 24 hours of breaching the seal on the vial |
| Withholding Periods | Meat: Nil Milk: Nil Export Slaughter Interval: Nil |
Find out more by going to www.pinkeye.com.au or by calling 1800 226 511
1. Meat and Livestock Australia (2006). Assessing the economic cost of endemic disease on the profitability of Australian beef cattle and sheep producers, MLA Final Report.
2. Burns BM, Howitt CJ, Esdale CR (1998). Bovine infectious keratoconjunctivitis in different cattle breed. Proceedings of the Australian Society of Animal Production 17:150-153.
