Understanding summer pneumonia and pink eye

MARYSVILLE, Kan. — During springtime, it’s important for cattle producers to gear up for warm weather risks calves are up against, like summer pneumonia and pinkeye.

“These costly conditions can be well avoided through sound management and prevention methods,” said Arnold Nagely, DVM, co-founder of Valley Vet Supply. Dr. Nagely practiced food animal veterinary medicine for many years before co-founding Valley Vet Supply, alongside fellow veterinarian, Ray Shultz, DVM.

Summer Pneumonia

Also referred to as pasture pneumonia, summer pneumonia is best described as a respiratory disease affecting younger calves on pasture, usually late in the summer. The infectious agents associated with summer calf pneumonia mirror those causing typical post-weaning bovine respiratory disease (BRD), such as Mannheimia haemolytica, Histophilus somni, Pasteurella multocida, Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis Virus (IBR), and Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus (BRSV).

The risk for summer pneumonia-causing viruses and bacteria can increase as temperatures change or during times of greater stress, such as processing or transporting calves. Vaccination programs, combined with sound herd management, are key for prevention. “I’ve always thought of summer pneumonia being related to the antibody levels from the colostrum dropping below protective levels, usually when the calf is 3 months or so old,” said Dr. Shultz. By ingesting quality colostrum, calves absorb maternal antibodies that initiate a strong immune system early in life; however, this immunity deteriorates as the calf gets older, making vaccinations vital. Vaccines sensitize and train the calf’s immune system to recognize and fight these viruses and bacteria when encountered.

“Summer pneumonia often coincides with the farmer stockman being very busy with hay and other crops, so they are unable to watch calves as closely. This can make summer pneumonia seem like a sudden disaster because the first thing they may see is a severely sick, or even a dead calf,” continued Dr. Shultz.

Signs:

Droopy ears
Sluggish demeanor
Extended neck
Rapid breathing
Nasal discharge

To help prevent summer pneumonia risk, “Vaccinate calves prior to sending to pasture with a modified live virus vaccine combined with Pasteurella pneumonia,” encourages Dr. Shultz.

“Timely vaccine utilization is crucial to help prevent summer pneumonia,” Dr. Nagely said. “In addition to vaccinations, incorporate MultiMin 90 – an injectable, aqueous supplemental source of zinc, copper, selenium and manganese – in the cows and calves to help optimize immunity. Trace minerals are important for immunity and immune response to vaccines.”

Pinkeye

As spring turns to summer, conditions also become ideal for the development and transmission of Moraxella bovis, the primary infectious agent of Infectious Bovine Keratoconjunctivitis (IBK), more commonly known as pinkeye. Pinkeye is a highly contagious ocular disease primarily affecting calves and can lead to vision loss. Pinkeye in calves and younger cattle is more common because they have not yet developed immunity to Moraxella bovis.

In addition to the pinkeye-causing bacterium Moraxella bovis, other sources of eye irritation can result from tall grasses rubbing the eyes as cattle walk and graze, as well as dust particles and other debris impacting the eye. Pinkeye is spread when an animal comes into contact with infected secretions of another. “While Moraxella bacteria are responsible for the pinkeye infection, face flies are known to transmit the bacteria from animal to animal,” Dr. Nagely said. “As the weather warms in the spring and temperatures go up, so do the fly populations. Pinkeye can quickly escalate to be the biggest challenge for cow/calf herds during late spring and summer.”

Face flies feed on eye and nose secretions, carrying infectious agents with them. Flies can harbor Moraxella bovis for up to three days, transmitting it rapidly from infected to non-infected animals. This condition can plummet profit by as much as $12 per hundredweight, compared to healthy calves sold without pinkeye, according to published data.

Signs:

Mild eye irritation with tears
Ulceration of the cornea
Severe inflammation
Vision loss
Elevated body temperature
Decreased time spent grazing
Suppressed appetite, from pain
Loss of weight and body condition
Increased time in the shade

“With the timely use of newer vaccines and utilizing other control steps, many producers have been able to change a dreaded annual pinkeye debacle into an experience of a rare pinkeye incidence. The savings in time, cost of treatment combined with production loss, can be immense,” said Dr. Nagely.

Because Moraxella bovis transmission often involves face flies, an intensive fly control program is essential, among other best management practices. Several steps can be taken to greatly reduce the likelihood of pinkeye infection, including:

Timely pinkeye cattle vaccines; your veterinarian or Valley Vet Supply’s veterinarians can help discuss sensible options
Clipping tall grass heads in pastures to avoid scratching the cattle’s eyes
Minimizing the level of dust in hay and feed bunks to avoid eye irritation
Ensuring cattle have ample shade
Implementing fly control methods, such as:

- Fly tags, an economical aid in the control of face flies for up to five months
- Cattle rubs charged with insecticide or dust bags, allowing cattle to frequently self-treat
- Pour-on insecticides, if more frequent application is feasible, as well as practicing insecticide rotation
- ATV insecticide mist sprayers, CO2 Vetgun Vetcaps and pump-up sprayers, for speed and convenience
- Insect growth regulator (IGR) feedthrough larvicide mixed into mineral to prohibit immature flies from developing into adults

“When comparing fly control methods, consider what is the most practical to implement in your operation,” encourages Dr. Shultz. “If your herd interaction is infrequent due to time, distance or pasture size, your approach may differ from a producer whose cattle are nearby and easily accessible.”

Help safeguard your herd’s health by taking steps to protect against common health conditions like summer pneumonia and pinkeye. Speak with your veterinarian to learn more, or phone Valley Vet Supply and request to speak with a veterinarian on staff. Learn more at ValleyVet.com.

About Valley Vet Supply

Valley Vet Supply was founded in 1985 by veterinarians to provide customers with the very best animal health solutions. Building on over half a century of experience in veterinary medicine, Valley Vet Supply serves equine, pet and livestock owners with thousands of products and medications hand-selected by Valley Vet Supply founding veterinarians and their professional staff. With an in-house pharmacy that is licensed in all 50 states, and verified through the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP), Valley Vet Supply is the dedicated source for all things horse, livestock and pet. For more information, please visit ValleyVet.com.

— Valley Vet Supply

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