Stronger Eyes with iGard

Pink eye is the name that’s given to a painful bacterial infection of the eye seen in cattle. Flies play some role in the spread of this disease although it is seen during colder months, as well, in some situations. The disease typically requires intense labor and treatment of the eye itself in affected cattle. Pastured cattle present a challenge as systemic treatment is not often effective and these cattle seldom are located near restraint facilities.

Vaccines are often frustrating as well. A vaccine against the bovine strain of Moraxella bovis does not protect against the sheep and goat strains, which are typically Pseudomonas sp. Sites that have used autogenous vaccines made from the farm’s own organism may work well for that year, but eventually another organism may be the causative agent in a future year, and the site is back to square one. The antibodies we hope to produce through vaccines must be delivered to the surface of the eye via the tear film and the blinking mechanism. The surface of the eye is precariously outside the body from an immune delivery point of view. That is why the body grows blood vessels into the usually clear cornea to aid in the healing process once the disease is present.

What if, instead, we focused on making a stronger, more resistant corneal surface that would offer stronger cell bonding mucous films? This would mean a more resistant as a barrier and it would make antibodies in the tear film stickier so that they stayed on the eye surface longer when delivered by the tear film.

iGard from Applied Biotech is a feed additive that helps to accomplish just these things. At a 15 gm per day feed level, it can easily be included in free choice pasture minerals and in pellet formulations for daily support in controlling pink eye.

iGard is not a drug, but instead a blend of immune system fortifying ingredients that can be added for seasonal control as needed.