Later, the eye takes on a milky appearance and a grayish ulcer appears on the cornea, temporarily blinding the animal. Permanent blindness can result. If any show symptoms of the disease, put them in a darkened barn or use eye patches to reduce the stress from sunlight. Antibiotics in powder form can be puffed into the eye, but the calf needs to be restrained to insure that the medication gets into the eye. Continue treatment for a week or more until all discharges cease.
Ulcerated eyes require prompt treatment by a veterinarian.
Creep Feeding Creep feeding is not a replacement for rapid growth potential, good milk production in cows or improved pastures to produce the well-grown, muscular calves that cattle feeders are looking for. You should not creep feed, however, if forage is abundant and cows are good milkers. In general, replacement heifers should not be creep fed either. Also, research has shown that calves from creep-fed dams often weigh less at weaning than calves from dams that had not been creep fed. Implants Growth stimulants will increase rate of gain and weaning weights of calves.