Can diet cause structure issues??

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SlickTxMaine

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Feb 11, 2009
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641
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Texas
Just curious about this: last year my son raised a maine steer for our local show.  Good steer, got looked at real hard for reserve, but he had fluid on his hocks which caused him to walk stiff.  The judge pegged it right off, commented on it and placed him third.  He weighed 1340 if I remember correctly.  We really  had to hold him at the end and pull his water.  We fed him a complete bagged feed, adding beet pulp, and vitafirm pellets, and at the end added steam flaked corn and stabilized rice bran.  He also had all the hay he wanted.  

This year, he has a Charolais/angus steer.  Really nice steer...the problem, a few months ago he started limping on his front legs.  Took him to the vet, had xrays done, and he was diagnosed with epiphysitis (sp).  Gave him anti-inflamatory and lots of cold hosing.  He now walks w/o a limp, but he has fluid build up on his knees.  Almost looks like he is bucking over in the knees, but it's just the fluid.  He walks a little stiff on the front due to the fluid.  We are giving banamine orally, Adequan and lots of exercise.  This year we are feeding a mixed feed, pretty much AOOK's recipe.  We are also supplementing with Vitafirm and was giving him power fuel- stopped this about a month or so ago.  We are now adding extra barley and stabilized rice bran and all the hay he wants.  He currently weighs 1235 with one month to show.

Also, the steers came from different breeders, different bloodlines.

My question after this looooooong post is---- Are we pushing too hard and causing these problems?  Is this just bad luck two years in a row, or are we doing something wrong??  
I apologize for the long story, but wanted to give as many details as possible.  Thanks!
 

Truthful 101

Member
Joined
Jan 31, 2011
Messages
9
Yes, feed can cause structure issues.  Too much energy can be serious.  Especialy if it is grain based.  As far as the fluid on the joints, that sounds like a calf that has been injured.  Which if the bone structure does't line up right can be caused by just activity.  The fluid shows up to protect the joint. 
 

chambero

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Feb 12, 2007
Messages
3,207
Location
Texas
Feeding isn't causing your problems.  You can founder one by feeding way too much corn, but you aren't doing that with a mixed feed.  You almost have to try to screw one up with feed.

Essentially, many calves have too much muscle on too small of frame.  Ligaments, tendons, cartiledge and other soft tissue can't handle it sometimes.

The way we handle show calves (keeping them in stalls, little exercise, etc) exacerbates these kinds of problems.  Biggest thing is to get them plenty of exercise and keep them in stalls with soft enough bedding. 

 

Earthmover

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Joined
Mar 24, 2010
Messages
172
It may be where you are keeping them, ie concrete floor. And yes IMO diet can cause the problems. Recently buried the neighbors colt that had to be put down by a vet. He claims the main problem was nutrition. Did'nt go over to well with the owners. The vet works for a university and claims he sees this all the time regardless of species. Many people just dont understand basic nutrition in growing mammals. Just look around at the human kids runnin around the shows or schools, too fat at a young age. Most dont have a clue as to what a body needs to develop correctly at various stages in life. Most of your feed suppliers have tried to rectify this with various mixes to be used at different stages of growth. But by the time a problem is identified most itmes its too late to change. Take a good look at what you fed when and what stage in life your calf was. Good luck.
 

chambero

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Feb 12, 2007
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3,207
Location
Texas
This guy is feeding his calves a proper show feed.  Front ends are still the hardest part of a calf to id problems as a baby.
 
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