Post-legged steer

[jenniferc]

We have a serious issue.  We have a severely straghtlegged steer.  I am afraid he will be lame before fair in Oct.  Any suggestions for how to treat this problem?  We have been giving him asprin daily, but it doesnt seem to help.

 

[hangonsloopy]

He is a cripple get a new one.  Sorry to be blunt but I am seeing this way to much when people are buying baby calves,  they don't know enough about structure and flat cannot see problems.  If your steer is as bad as you say he is, he has been that way since he was born.  My advice, find someone that can see these problems that you trust and have them find you a calf next year, even if you have to pay more.  Your better off that way than having a 950 lb. calf that needs his head cut off.  Sorry I think this is a major problem and I see it way to much.

 

[FutureBreeder2013]

Posty legs are structure problems that cant really be fixed. Like hangonsloopy said its not worth showing or keeping around one thats crippled.

 

[Telos]

There are a whole lot of cattle out there that are too straight. Some can handle it a little better then others. The really heavy muscled/bone ones seem to have the biggest problems. I would make sure he gets enough exercise (but not too much) to keep him walking as freely as possible and hope for the best. Sometimes they are just too steep in there angle structure and there is not much you can do, especially with the more weight increase.

 

[LostFarmer]

Is he a Heat Wave?  (dog)  Had to throw that out there. 

It is a problem with all animals too much muscle and the structure can start to fail.  Look at body builders in humans.  Pigs that are really stout made often has problem straying sound as well.  Hard to fix structure with feed.  Feed him out and use him for your table and show something else.  LF

 

[Show Heifer]

First off, asprin will cause ulcers if used long term.

Second, "Too straight and doing worse every day" seems to be a genetic problem called Spastic phresis (sorry, I can't spell it right). It is a genetic disorder that several bloodlines of cattle have.

Not going to get better, only worse, until he will not be able to stand (possibly).

Your best bet is to get all drug withdrawl out of him and then sell him or butcher him. Sorry. Why prolong his suffering when he won't place well in a show anyway?