Hoofrot?

[TxCoUnTrYbOy]

Today I was walking my bull around for a long time and a couple times he just layed down while I was walking him. I noticed on his front left foot when he took a step he would curl it up behind him then step back down. Tonight just above the hoof it looked a little swollen. I took him to have his feet trimmed on Wednesday, so it may be something with that. I talked to the guy that trimmed them, and he said it sounded like hoofrot. He told me to check for red crusty stuff at the hairline of his hoof. He also told me that there is a pill that I can get for this to correct it fast. Could someone tell me what this pill is and if it sounds like hoofrot?

 

[baldy]

I have only dealt with a few cases but I used la200 and it worked fairly quick, sometimes it seems half the cure was gettig it to break open while chasing them in

 

[tapeworm]

be sure the hoof man didn't quick him before you give him antibiotics. If you do give him something use the la200 or generic tetra (lots cheaper) will knock it quicker than anything if it is footrot. Is that a sho bull? You say you walk him and trim his feet. The la will leave some nasty knots lot of times. Never heard of a pill that works as good. You can give it subq now in loose skin behind and under forelegs if you worry about knots.

 

[TheBullLady]

TCB.. if he's in a set of pens that are wet, it might be hoof rot. I suspect the trimmer cut him close.

Brahmans are famous for laying down.. he's trying to tell you he's tired of walking. Wait until he does that in the ring! It's happened to me :oops:

 

[TxCoUnTrYbOy]

He has never layed down before when I was walking him, and I have walked him for much longer than I did today, so I dont think that is what is wrong. I did notice that he would not let me feel his leg, when he would let me feel any of his others, so it must mean that his leg is hurting him. I will check him out in the morning and find out for sure if it is hoof rot, and if it is I will call the vet and see what he would recommend to eliminate the problem fast.

 

[Dee]

Iodine packet added to the feed will help with the foot rot, and adding lime in the pen for him to walk on is supposed to be good also. Maybe the person who told you about the pill, was thinking of sulfa pills?

 

[TXCHICK]

We use coppertox (spelling) on the hoof area, but be careful of the hair because it will take it off. We give la200. If hooves are trimmed too short try soaking the hoof with turpintine . A Farrier friend told use to do this to toughen the hooves after they have been trimmed. We puddle it around the hoof while feeding the animal. It has worked well for us. We had someone trim one of our heifers and nearly crippled her. Took a lot of work and time to get her through it.

 

[Bez]

OK - I am looking for information here.

Why does a young animal like this require a hoof trimming in the first place?

I have never had to trim the hoof on any animal under the age of 4 or 5. If there is a reason I would like to know. In fact, I have only trimmed a couple in the entire history of our place.

Don't get into the soft ground and fast hoof growth - I know the theory - I am just wondering if this type of thing was really needed in the first place.

Is it a genetic thing with this young bull? Or is it a "too much" scenario?

It's nice to have a good looking show animal, but sometimes I think too much gets done and in the end it does not help - instead it hinders.

I liked the comment - "quicked" - never heard it expressed that way - had that done to a horse once about 10 years ago - took about two months for it to recover.

Just a question from a guy who would like to know.

Thanks in advance,

Bez

 

[dun]

OK - I am looking for information here.

Why does a young animal like this require a hoof trimming in the first place?

I have never had to trim the hoof on any animal under the age of 4 or 5. If there is a reason I would like to know. In fact, I have only trimmed a couple in the entire history of our place.

Don't get into the soft ground and fast hoof growth - I know the theory - I am just wondering if this type of thing was really needed in the first place.

Is it a genetic thing with this young bull? Or is it a "too much" scenario?

It's nice to have a good looking show animal, but sometimes I think too much gets done and in the end it does not help - instead it hinders.

I liked the comment - "quicked" - never heard it expressed that way - had that done to a horse once about 10 years ago - took about two months for it to recover.

Just a question from a guy who would like to know.

Thanks in advance,

Bez

Gotta go along with the why of hoof trimming. In the dairy it's because of the high amounts of grain. If I had one that needed trimming she'ld get it done somewhere else. Someday when the mud isn't as deep I'll try to get pictures of our old cows feet. Somewhere between 12 and 14 and her feet look as good as a calves. Just a whole lot bigger.

dun

 

[Bez]

Thnx Dun - sounds like we concur - just wondering if someone was not "in search of the perfect foot?"

I'll wait for TxCoUnTrYbOy to respond.

Bez

 

[Cattle Rack Rancher]

I have to agree on the hoof trimming thing as well. If I have to trim the hooves on my bull, They'll be getting trimmed around knee height.

 

[TxCoUnTrYbOy]

I cant really explain why he would need hoof trimming, but a few months ago his hooves were so bad that they were starting to curl. I got them trimmed a couple months ago, and the guy said a few weeks before show bring him back and they can so some more to straighten the hooves out for show. I definately am going to go with what the guy I got my bull from said. He has been raising Brahman show cattle since my ag teacher was in high school (well over 40 years) and he takes great pride in the cattle he sells. I dont know if its abnormal to grow that quickly, I dont know why they would grow that fast, but they did, and the guy told me get those taken care of fast since they were already way overdue for a trimming.

 

[Wewild]

Sounds like he's foundered before.

 

[rgv4]

Ok. Some of the reasons that show cattle feet are trimmed is:

Have you guys ever seen or heard of a coon footed cow? Pigeoned toed? A good hoof trimming can fix this.

If a calf has a snap in their walk, a good trimming can fix that too.

Hoof trimming on show cattle is basically the same concept as the long hair on the english and continental breeds, the hair hides flaws on the calf and the hoof trimming basically can straighten out the walk.

I know this is going to start the same old discussion about show cattle don't do in the pastures, but these are some of the reasons show cattle's feet are trimmed. But, if you look at a pasture full of cattle, you will see coon footed cows, cows walking with a snap in their steps, cracked hooves, etc. Trimming is just a way to fix it for the show ring.

Think of it the same as why horse's feet are trimmed.

 

[Farminlund]

My hoof rot experience is limited to the warm weather months - Iodine & LA200 (or just LA200) always fix the problem (& usually in a few days). If the bull has been grazing stockpile fescue, the issue may be fescue foot which usally makes it's appearance in the cold weather. If this is the cause, change pasture/feed immediately (currently have one heifer in this catagory myself).

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

As a "showperson" I have had many calves feet trimmed to make them "look better" or maybe even correct a problem (I hate to admit that). But, we've outgrown that. If they're not good enough the way they are, than they aren't good enough to show. We found that any mature cows in our herd that had any kind of hoof problem was one that had been trimmed as a calf. We leave them alone.
Breed for good round big feet. If they don't have good feet & are not structurally sound, why show them and better yet, why breed them. Granted a little snip here & there sure can make them appear neater and you can do a lot with just rasping the toes a little. But, all in all, we try to just leave them alone. But we also turn our show cattle out on rough rocky ground all night long & they should wear their feet down naturally.

 

[cul8r]

As a "showperson" I have had many calves feet trimmed to make them "look better" or maybe even correct a problem (I hate to admit that). But, we've outgrown that. If they're not good enough the way they are, than they aren't good enough to show. We found that any mature cows in our herd that had any kind of hoof problem was one that had been trimmed as a calf. We leave them alone.
Breed for good round big feet. If they don't have good feet & are not structurally sound, why show them and better yet, why breed them. Granted a little snip here & there sure can make them appear neater and you can do a lot with just rasping the toes a little. But, all in all, we try to just leave them alone. But we also turn our show cattle out on rough rocky ground all night long & they should wear their feet down naturally.

This first part of my post is kinda going off the subject of the orginal poster's question, but, do you slick shear those Simm's before you show them or do you clip and fluff that long hair to make them look perfect with no flaws?

Now back to the hoof rot. I use LA 200 and Kopetox(sp ?) topical, but like said before be careful with the topical because it will take the hair off.

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

This first part of my post is kinda going off the subject of the orginal poster's question, but, do you slick shear those Simm's before you show them or do you clip and fluff that long hair to make them look perfect with no flaws?

First, a lot of Simmental have poor hair to work. Some are decent. We block the hair & keep it pretty short. We can cover up little dips & doodles but not much. Not like some of the clubbie calves. You can lose a hand in all that hair. We believe the shorter the hair, the more muscle expression the judge can see.

 

[TheBullLady]

Personally I think the main reasons show calves need to have their feet trimmed is because of the feeding program they're on. They are basically on feed lot type rations, and fed higher protein than for a fed calf, hence they get rapid hoof growth.

I agree it also can help cover travelling "faults" or confirmation problems.

 

[holistichoofcare]

There are many reasons show calves may need there feet trimmed One being genetics its fact that most calves inheirt the feet and legs from the sire so picking a bull that throws bad feet will predispose ur animals to being prone to being more high maintence as far as hoof trimming
2. Enviornment if ur calf is on a pack her feet are gonna grow the warm wet pack encourages rapid hoof growth so does wet muddy areas or high manure areas dry pasture should minimize hoof growth
3.Nutrition the more u feed ur animal the quicker there feet are gonna grow
Finally in my opinion all animals should have there feet examined ESPECIALY show animals cows feet are the equilivelant to a trucks tire if u dont check the air and rotate them ur gonna get a flat use the same theory with ur cows feet and u will have success

as for the hoof rot issue check between the toes to see if its broke open If theres swelling i doubt its from being trimmed to short unless it has abcessed most of the time if a cows foot is trimmed to short or thin an ulcer will form the foot will appear normal but will be extremly uncomfortable to walk on it almost sounds if this animal injury is more of a sprain or twist