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Pinkeye in cattle, often looked upon as just a troublesome disease, can be very costly. Throughout the United States, cattlemen have to deal with pinkeye, usually on a seasonal basis. When the problem disappears during colder weather, cattlemen often forget about the problem-until it comes time to sell their animals. Most cattlemen know an animal infected with pinkeye usually won't sell at the auction barn. Other cattlemen are reluctant to buy another person's problems. They also find the scar tissue reduces the value of the animal because infected cattle tend to do poorly. Buyers don't want pinkeye animals in their herds. Show animals with pinkeye or pinkeye scar tissue won't sell to exhibitors. If your animal does sell at the auction barn, the price is usually considerably less than for a comparable animal without the disease. Some state officials say the animal could bring as much as 5 cents a pound less. The loss could range up to $20 per head when treatment and veterinary costs are added. An animal infected with pinkeye usually stops eating or will eat less. Officials say weight loss can be from 27 to 40 pounds per animal until it regains its eyesight. If the eyesight is lost permanently, the animal can be headed for more trouble such as losing its way on the open range and falling into a gully or being unable to find food or water. Treatment costs can mount rapidly. Control measures include eye patches to keep out the irritating ultraviolet rays from the sun, ear tags to try to control face flies that account for spread of the disease, various forms of anitbiotics, plus veterinary costs. Many producers are finding it cost effective to use a pinkeye vaccine, thus preventing the disease before treatment is needed. Feeding mineral with Aureomycin is a good preventive measure. The Aureomycin will reduce the incidence of pinkeye. |
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