A first for us caution graphic photo

[gizmom]

I have said many times when you think you have things sorta figu out with cattle they will teach you just how wrong you are. Jacob and E went to get her show steer out after church yesterday and Jacob said the calf just wasn't acting right. He watched him for awhile and couldn't figure out what was going on not something any of us had seen. He called our vet who said it sounded like bladder stones so Jacob hauled him over. They did emergency surgery poor guy was about to explode his bladder. They had to do surgery to save him. I had heard of this but never had actual experience. i found a couple articles about it last night. The calf was still eating hay when Jacob hauled him to the vet he is back home and doing fine but I don't recommend standing too close behind him in case he needs to pee. https://www.iowabeefcenter.org/bch/UrinaryCalculi.pdf

View attachment FullSizeRender.MOV

 

[Son of Butch]

Yes, we had 1 steer like that once, we went with common sense solution of slaughtering upon receiving diagnosis before the carcass becomes contaminated or running up a Vet bill that offsets any hope of any profit. Commercial decision vs 'pets' I guess.

 

[SBMF 2015]

Good job catching that in time.
While not common, we used to see bladder stones more frequently 20yrs ago when guys started feeding a lot of distillers.
With current fat prices he'll still make money.

 

[greybeard]

Ok, but what did they do to the steer's urinary tract to make urine be expelled from behind instead of out his penis?

 

[Ouachita]

Ok, but what did they do to the steer's urinary tract to make urine be expelled from behind instead of out his penis?

View attachment 27594

Considering the procedure are you?

 

[greybeard]

No.
I prefer still, to stand.

 

[gizmom]

Yes, we had 1 steer like that once, we went with common sense solution of slaughtering upon receiving diagnosis before the carcass becomes contaminated or running up a Vet bill that offsets any hope of any profit. Commercial decision vs 'pets' I guess.

SOB he would have been dead before we could have got him to a processor this way we still salvage the steer we certainly take a hit but not a complete loss but we won't have to bury him. Had this not been one of the girls show calves chances are we would have found him dead in the pasture. The remark about commercial vs. pets was a bit snarky even for you.

 

[Ouachita]

No.
I prefer still, to stand.

Well, there's that, and the fact it's still cheaper to drink Corona. That stuff'll make you squat to pee.

 

[MurraysMutts]

I have said many times when you think you have things sorta figu out with cattle they will teach you just how wrong you are. Jacob and E went to get her show steer out after church yesterday and Jacob said the calf just wasn't acting right. He watched him for awhile and couldn't figure out what was going on not something any of us had seen. He called our vet who said it sounded like bladder stones so Jacob hauled him over. They did emergency surgery poor guy was about to explode his bladder. They had to do surgery to save him. I had heard of this but never had actual experience. i found a couple articles about it last night. The calf was still eating hay when Jacob hauled him to the vet he is back home and doing fine but I don't recommend standing too close behind him in case he needs to pee. https://www.iowabeefcenter.org/bch/UrinaryCalculi.pdf
View attachment 27576
View attachment 27577

So will he always pee like that??

 

[greybeard]

So will he always pee like that??

And how will judges react when he's in the ring and looks like a heifer peeing?

 

[Silver]

Good catch. That's a procedure that can be done home for those with a knack for such things. I know a cowboy or two that has done it, I wouldn't be surprised if @gcreekrch has it in his repertoire.

 

[gizmom]

So will he always pee like that??

Yes this procedure will give them about 6 months he only has about a month to go.

 

[gizmom]

And how will judges react when he's in the ring and looks like a heifer peeing?

Confused lol

 

[Son of Butch]

SOB he would have been dead before we could have got him to a processor this way we still salvage the steer we certainly take a hit but not a complete loss but we won't have to bury him. Had this not been one of the girls show calves chances are we would have found him dead in the pasture. The remark about commercial vs. pets was a bit snarky even for you.

You're right and deserve an apology, because I know you're not a pet producer. Being the girl's show steer I jumped to the conclusion it was being treated differently. More importantly forgot each case can be different. We caught ours when steer was struggling to pee, but still passing urine. Vet explained the options. He could do the surgery, but recommended slaughter due to the added cost on a steer already close to slaughter weight and might be close to the possibility of getting the carcass condemned if we waited too long.
(He was a former USDA meat inspector) Adding the steer could also shut down ability to pass any urine and be dead in a week.
I didn't realize yours was already past the stage where we caught our one and only case.

 

[gizmom]

You're right and deserve an apology, because I know you're not a pet producer. Being the girl's show steer I jumped to the conclusion it was being treated differently. More importantly forgot each case can be different. We caught ours when steer was struggling to pee, but still passing urine. Vet explained the options. He could do the surgery, but recommended slaughter due to the added cost on a steer already close to slaughter weight and might be close to the possibility of getting the carcass condemned if we waited too long.
(He was a former USDA meat inspector) Adding the steer could also shut down ability to pass any urine and be dead in a week.
I didn't realize yours was already past the stage where we caught our one and only case.

No worries I shouldn't have said anything, I was also a bit snarky lol

 

[simme]

Ok, but what did they do to the steer's urinary tract to make urine be expelled from behind instead of out his penis?

View attachment 27594

Follow the urethra from the bladder to the sheath. It goes toward the rear, turns down with an s shaped section to allow extension of the penis. Below the rectum, it is close to the rear of the steer. Vet makes an incision there, locates the urethra, makes a cut and sutures the end to keep it external.
About 20 years ago, I sent some steers to a small feedlot in Iowa. Two of the steers developed blockages. One died and one was salvaged with this procedure. My understanding is that steers on high phosphorus diets (corn) are at greater risk of development of stones if there is a nutrition imbalance. Important to keep the phosphorus/calcium ratio correct (increased calcium needed). Also was told that adding more salt to the feed will help prevent the problem (increased water intake).
During vet school clinical rotations, my daughter did a 3 week externship with a large animal clinic in Nebraska (clinic that does vet work for Connealy Angus). A steer was brought in with a blockage. The vets told her to do this procedure while they went on a call. That was her first bovine surgery.

 

[uplandnut]

That"s a good catch by Jacob.

 

[SDgrampa]

Gonna have to change his/her name to Kaitlin

 

[Farmerjon]

Saw a few of those in 4H goats. Can't say for sure, but thought it was when they were fed the generic "all stock" feed. Thinking it was the molasses or copper. Basically if I remember correctly, it is more common when hay is reduced and majority of feed comes from concentrates/bags/feed mill. Good eye on catching it, would have the vet type something up and have it in the shoebox. Someone somewhere will question it.

 

[redcowsrule33]

If he gets urine on the skin you face the possibility of urine scald. Being a show steer I would put petroleum jelly on the skin below it to try to prevent that.