Short strided heifer

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zak

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Sep 6, 2008
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I have a heifer the misses her front hoof print by 4 or 5 inches. I have a video that i can email to you guys. If you guys would post your email i will send you the vid and give me some feedback on it. The heifer is an extremely nice heifer but i want to try and fix this problem of hers. I will also send you another short video of her in Nov. Where she strides perfectly.

Thanks Zak
 

CANsteer

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Oct 27, 2010
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have you tried that stride supplement from Sullivan's that comes in a little package. i don't know if it works, maybe someone else does.
 

GoWyo

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Nov 29, 2008
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Wyoming
Do you have a way to turn her out in the pasture for a few hours a day or maybe a larger area where you can drive her so that she walks out with a purpose?  Sometimes just hanging out in the corral all the time makes them tight.  Growing cattle need exercise.
 

zak

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Sep 6, 2008
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Can you guys post your emails and take a look at the videos. I think its because she isnt able to be turned out in the pasture. She has planty of flex in her hocks.


Zak
 

cpubarn

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May 24, 2007
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Sheffield,IA
I'm guessing that genetics and overall structure are a lot of the stride issue.  However, I think that the previous suggestion of putting her in a large pasture and making her walk for water or feed will make her the best she can be.  I know that when the kids show heifers go to the pasture after the fair it is the best they ever walk.

Mark
 

zak

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Sep 6, 2008
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In two months can a heifer go from walking fine to missing her front hoof print by 4 inches?

Zak
 

chambero

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Feb 12, 2007
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Texas
If she keeps growing longer and not taller, she can't reach that far.  The big thing is does one take long, normal steps.  I could care less if they actually cover up tracks.

We had a show heifer a few years ago that when she started getting too fat, she started having a little trouble moving.  Two different times we kicked her out on the pasture for a couple of weeks.  She literally had a magic weight that if she passed it, she stiffened up.  Pull a little weight off, back to normal.

She just had her fourth calf this fall.
 

SlickTxMaine

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Feb 11, 2009
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641
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Texas
My son's steer had stiffened up and was short striding a little.  He has now been getting walked 30 minutes a day for the last 3 wks, and it has helped him tremendously.  Although he leads good, my son ties him to our ATV, which keeps him moving at a steady pace for 30 mins. straight.  Your heifer may just need more excercise.  The steer also had fluid build up on his knees, which is now almost completely gone.  GOod luck!
 

SouthWest

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Aug 18, 2008
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195
I don't think it can make up 4 to 5 inches but have you looked at her rear hooves?  Stierwalt like to take a little pad off in order to lengthen the stride.  I also recommend what was previously mentioned on supplements and excercise. 
 

SouthWest

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Aug 18, 2008
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from Live Chat with Kirk Stierwalt 2/24/10

COLEBABIE says: well for a newbie i would like to ask, should stand up on the hoof or back, our breeder trims so they kind of sit back on the hooves and others tell me he needs to be up , it is very confusing to someone who has no idea

Kirk Stierwalt says: @Colebabie without looking at your calf, we like them to be sitting back on their heal, in todays time structure is an issue, we are taking heel off about all the cattle front and back this creates a softer pastern and a longer stride.

 
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