Keep an Eye on Conjunctivitis

Sep 29, 2025

Do you know how to recognize conjunctivitis (often referred to as “pinkeye”) in swine? A new publication from the Iowa Pork Industry Center is designed to help producers recognize the condition and what to do when it is detected in their herd.

Iowa State University extension swine veterinarian Chris Rademacher says many cases are observed during the late nursery to early grow-finish phase. It’s characterized by inflammation of the conjunctival membranes of the eye.

The inflammation can be caused by common infectious pathogens and non-infectious avenues such as high levels of dust or ammonia, elevated hydrogen sulfide levels, and allergenic bedding material.

Rademacher says it’s also a common complaint among producers, including those involved in swine shows.

“Both prevalence and severity in a group depend on the route of infection and transmission,” Rademacher explains. “For example, Chlamydia suis is a common agent, yet other viruses such as PRRS, Influenza A, and pseudorabies should be ruled out with veterinarian assistance.”

If you think your pigs have conjunctivitis, he encourages assessing environmental conditions, taking swab samples, and working with a veterinarian on the next steps.

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Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.