Animal Health & Husbandry
1 November, 2025
Check for pink-eye
SOUTH west cattle producers are reminded to regularly check their cattle for pink-eye outbreaks during the upcoming warmer weather.
According to Agriculture Victoria the hot conditions bring a higher risk of the disease.
The summer season brings increased sunlight and dust, which can make the eye more vulnerable to the disease.
Symptoms of pink-eye can include clear and watery tears leaking from the eye, an aversion to sunlight and reddening and swelling of the eyelids.
Pink-eye usually occurs in young cattle in their first summer.
After this initial infection, cattle can develop immunity to the disease but may remain carriers of the bacteria, moraxella bovis, which can potentially lead to future outbreaks in following years.
A number of preventative measures and treatments are available for the disease.
Pink-eye can be treated with sprays, ointments, injections and patches or a combination of these treatments.
Extra care should be taken when mustering cattle for the purposes of treatment for pink-eye, as factors such as dust and flies may enhance the spread of the disease.
An outbreak of pink-eye can be prevented through vaccination three to six weeks before the onset of the pink-eye season.
Other control measures include controlling fly numbers to limit the spread of bacteria from animal to animal, prompt segregation and treatment of pink-eye in affected stock and avoiding unnecessary yarding of cattle during periods where the risk of outbreak is higher.
For further advice, contact a local veterinarian or Agriculture Victoria on 136 186.