stubborn calf that refuses to walk

We Have a 900 pound market steer that refuses to walk, someone has to stay behind him and constantly tap him to make him move. We tie him up every day and he stands perfectly still while we brush him and he is as calm as can be, but when we try to walk him he either refuses to walk or acts like a maniac. We are just about ready to load him up and take him to the stock sale we are at our wits end. Has any one used melonin pills pills to help calm down a calf.

Thamine will help calm one down. We use it in the daily feed ration.

thanks for the advice i appreciate it. this is our fifth year taking a steer and we never have had this much trouble getting a steer to walk. he walked really good about a month ago i dont know why he started acting like a jerk. you can do everything with him but when it comes to walking he just doesn't want to do it.

you can try tying him to a donkey.  if he is stubborn it may help.  however, he also risks the chance for getting kicked and possibly injured.  also you can ty hin to a tractor and take him for a walk to try and break him.  good luck.

Have you tried a different halter?  If you are using a rope halter, try one with a chain under the chin.  Try having someone walk in front of you with a bucket of grain to get him moving, or put some hay in your pocket.  Try leading him to water a couple times a day.  Try walking another steer or heifer in front of him and see if he follows them.  Check to make sure his feet are not sore, or there is some injury that makes him not want to walk.

There was an idiot down the road from us who tried to tie his heifer to the tractor because she wouldnt walk and she still wouldnt walk.  In fact, he ruined her, pulled the muscles in her neck where he was just basically dragging her and she couldnt lift her head up anymore.  He had to take her to slaughter.  Stupid.  Ruined a perfectly good heifer because he was too lazy and had no patience.