Toein out? need some opinions

[WBar Farms]

Alright so I was talking to a guy selling calves and he mentioned the calfs biggest fault would be that he toes out but that its very tough to have a massive hipped calf to be correct in that sense.  Is that true?

 

[ploughshare]

I would agree that for the most part the big quartered square hipped calves tend to be splay footed, but the very best are not.

 

[frostback]

No its not true. If a calf is toeing out at 500 to 600lbs it will only get worse with weight. Also dont let him talk you into it, saying a good hoof trimmer can fix it. I know a very good trimmer and it cannot be fixed or even managed. If it is really slight it may help some but it is not a fixable problem. The front feet dont hold up the hip.

 

[STEER_1981]

I would say that most steers do toe out a bit, but like the poster above said, the very best do not.  You might want to go to a big show though, and review all of this for yourself.  For  instance, go to a show, find the big hipped steers, and check to see whether they toe out. 

Additionally, like the poster above said, do not trust a seller who promises that a hoof trimmer can fix a problem.  It's usually a sales gimmick (one I've been burnt on, in fact).

 

[Bradenh]

yeah if he toes out now, i wouldnt buy him, that just means trouble when hes a fat steer. now a calf thats big hipped and finished out that is toeing out. thats accectable but not for a calf that your purchasing at a young age

 

[Telos]

There are degrees of toeing out. If only slightly then that might be alright. The ideal is to have them pointing foreward, especially in a competitive show. Many of these clubby bulls do toe out and it is not that easy to find one of their calves that doesn't.

I think the answer to your question would be how competitive you want to be. If it's a close call the judge will probably go for the calves that point more foreward.

 

[pjkjr4]

I agree with the above posters. Toeing out as a weaning calf is a soundness issue that I have seen in lots of calves as they get bigger. I too, have been burned with that sales gimmick that hoof trimming can fix it. The right guy working the table can help, but he/she won't fix it. We had a 500# steer that when I bought him, he would toe out on one foot or the other, not both. Within 60 days, both would be out a little. By the time he was fat, both were pointed out at a 45 degree angle. I questioned my trimmer as to fixing. He strapped him to the table, and winched him over half way. Both were pointing outward, with no weight on them.

If that's his only fault, and you think he will stay sound, be good at kicking sand on his front hooves in the showring!!  (lol)