Lane
Well-known member
Yesterday, when I went to move calves to ryegrass I found a 6 wt. steer standing in a fence corner
by himself. He was pushing his body against a 5 strand barbwire fence and laying his head on a
4 strand hotwire fence (that I know had 7k+volts) and did not seem affected. I pulled him out of
the corner by his tail, and he really didn't resist. He walked straight down the fence and parked
in another corner, pushing his head against a gate. I know he can see as he went around me a
couple of times and right down the fence. My guess is polio. I understand it can be a B vitamin
problem (thiamin) so I gave 30cc B complex , a shot of Banimine, and a shot of Zuprevo. He is
still alive this morning so my wife is picking up some Dex., and Thiamin from the vet.
Anybody have any other ideas or treatment. I haven't seen one of these in over 25 years and it
was big feedlot calves. I thought about lead poison, mold or aflatoxin, etc. Calves are on self-
feeders at night, ryegrass during day (no recent fertilizer), and have a good free-choice mineral.
There are about 85 other 6 wt. steers with this one and all seem fine. I started these calves as
3 wts. and they have been in about 4 months and have had all vaccinations and boosters. Any
ideas? Thanks
by himself. He was pushing his body against a 5 strand barbwire fence and laying his head on a
4 strand hotwire fence (that I know had 7k+volts) and did not seem affected. I pulled him out of
the corner by his tail, and he really didn't resist. He walked straight down the fence and parked
in another corner, pushing his head against a gate. I know he can see as he went around me a
couple of times and right down the fence. My guess is polio. I understand it can be a B vitamin
problem (thiamin) so I gave 30cc B complex , a shot of Banimine, and a shot of Zuprevo. He is
still alive this morning so my wife is picking up some Dex., and Thiamin from the vet.
Anybody have any other ideas or treatment. I haven't seen one of these in over 25 years and it
was big feedlot calves. I thought about lead poison, mold or aflatoxin, etc. Calves are on self-
feeders at night, ryegrass during day (no recent fertilizer), and have a good free-choice mineral.
There are about 85 other 6 wt. steers with this one and all seem fine. I started these calves as
3 wts. and they have been in about 4 months and have had all vaccinations and boosters. Any
ideas? Thanks