Pinkeye is horrible this year!

ClinchValley86 · Jul 28, 2025

ClinchValley86 said:
Free choice sodium bicarbonate. If its truly pinkeye, there's a ph imbalance in the rumen allowing the pinkeye, as well as hoof rot etc, to get a grip. Excessive protein often leads to that imbalance.

YouTube video - remineralizing cattle with Steve Campbell. He speaks on this. Makes a lot of sense IMO.

Ive had 7 calves tale chicory stalks INTO the eyeballs. Talking about a good size hole. Never did become pinkeye. Healed up within a week and vision is fine.
Ive not had actual pinkeye in 4+ years.

texoman said:
What is your method of "feeding" it? Do you follow the ways outlined in the video or mix it in your regular mineral?

I dont use it as my animals have a pretty balanced diet in terms of fiber and protein. When i started grazing at density those problems slowly disappeared. Only eye problems I have now are from stem pokes, which have yet to turn into pinkeye. (Knock on all the woods) Ive got a flock of birds that follow the cows around all the time and eat the flies. Im sure that helps with eye health as well.

My neighbor keeps the sodium bicarbonate in a mineral feeder, free choice. The kind with the rubber mat on top. Since doing so he had had zero pinkeye and honestly, the animals do look better. They give them entirely too much protein over there. Pinkeye has been a battle for them every year since 2018 or 2019 when they started.

Im the furthest thing from an expert youll find on this board but I do think the whole PH/pinkeye thing makes perfect sense. Therefore I try to share the info. There is quite a bit of content on YouTube with Mr Steve Campbell.

dave_shelby · Jul 29, 2025

Bought a bag of sodium bicarbonate. Cows were rotated into summer annual 10 days ago and we have had a few cows with pink eye. I thought that was unusual, as it's typically calves so hoping this helps.

ClinchValley86 · Jul 29, 2025

dave_shelby said:
Bought a bag of sodium bicarbonate. Cows were rotated into summer annual 10 days ago and we have had a few cows with pink eye. I thought that was unusual, as it's typically calves so hoping this helps.

Eye pokes perhaps?

Their manure real runny or are they getting plenty of fiber?

What stage is the forage? Just curious.

dave_shelby · Jul 29, 2025

Almost 60 days out from emergence of sudan sorghum, cow peas, pearl millet, sunflowers and brassicas. manure is loose

there is one cow who has a bump under the eye not sure what going on and I can't get close

ClinchValley86 · Jul 29, 2025

dave_shelby said:
Almost 60 days out from emergence of sudan sorghum, cow peas, pearl millet, sunflowers and brassicas. manure is loose

there is one cow who has a bump under the eye not sure what going on and I can't get close

I dont know how to explain it. But these eye pokes ive been getting from the chicory/Johnson grass is leaving a hole in their eye the size of a pencil. About a week or two later, the only thing you can see is a small white spot. No sign of infection. No watery discharge. They just keep the eye closed for a week or two and its back to normal. Vision seems just fine.

Spot & Bubby · Jul 29, 2025

I recently saw a video about this showing the feeder. Let me see if I can find it.

dave_shelby · Jul 29, 2025

where precisely is the hole?

gcreekrch · Jul 30, 2025

Dave said:
I have never done it myself but have watched a number of times as someone in antibiotics into the eye. They use a fine needle and inject a small amount under the membrane layer. Clears it right up. Most of mine get a shot of draxxin from a dart gun.

I do the under the membrane treatment. Have a heifer to treat tomorrow. First one this year, hopefully the last.

fnfarms1 · Jul 31, 2025

I did move to VitaZine mineral which has protein in it, DDG I think. Trying it this year to see if I liked results. I bought 2 pallets, still have a full one so I guess I’ll be feeding it through the winter but plan to likely go back to Vitaferm with COOL.
Wasn’t aware of the pH imbalance thing. It is crazy they can poke a stick through the eye and it heal up in few weeks or so. Thanks for feedback guys

ClinchValley86 · Jul 31, 2025

fnfarms1 said:
I did move to VitaZine mineral which has protein in it, DDG I think. Trying it this year to see if I liked results. I bought 2 pallets, still have a full one so I guess I'll be feeding it through the winter but plan to likely go back to Vitaferm with COOL.
Wasn't aware of the pH imbalance thing. It is crazy they can poke a stick through the eye and it heal up in few weeks or so. Thanks for feedback guys

Not gonna swear it always works that way. But has happened 7 or 8 times here this year.

Hope things work well for ya dude! (Dave

)

TexasJerseyMilker · Jul 31, 2025

My cattle were vaccinated last year for pink eye. This spring I had a lot of face flies covering the faces and eyes of my cows and heifers, their eyes had watery discharge and even puss- like discharge. Used UltraBoss pour on. Not a Face fly or Horn fly on any of them now and eyes are clear. It can be used every 2 weeks if needed.

dave_shelby · Jul 31, 2025

not seeing much interest in straight sodium bicarbonate. do you mix with anything?

fnfarms1 · Jul 31, 2025

dave_shelby said:
not seeing much interest in straight sodium bicarbonate. do you mix with anything?

Sodium bicarbonate is baking soda correct?

kenny thomas · Aug 1, 2025

fnfarms1 said:
Sodium bicarbonate is baking soda correct?

Yes

ClinchValley86 · Aug 1, 2025

I would leave it available for them and see if it changes. I know the neighbor did not mix it with anything. Took his cows a week or two to get to using it.

Im gonna study for ya for a few.

ClinchValley86 · Aug 1, 2025

I looked on FB thru people comments on the SB, these looked possibly helpful. Maybe not.

Saw someone ask about the SB directly snd was given this link. Thry came back and said thank for sharing so i assume they got something from it. The thread was concerning pinkeye.

There was mention of an enticer on one post but I couldn't make sense of it. I think that was moreso concerning Redmond Conditioner mixed with SB. I have heard nothing about that know what to share. Except for consitioner can interfere with pregnancy at certain times so...

BFE · Aug 1, 2025

I’ve had one case in the last 10 years, now two so far this year. Neighbors seem to fight it every year.

I don’t vaccinate for it, treat on a case by case basis. Macrosyn (draxxin) is working good.

Pinkeye is horrible this year!

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