Young Bull Shuffles Back Feet

Inventry
UnlistMe
Gather App
B

Brole7

Member
Joined
Aug 12, 2013
Messages
5
I have a 2 year old bull that recently started shuffling his back feet. In other words he would stand on one then the other for seconds at a time. His hooves were lengthening so I had a hoof trimmer trim his feet on a tilt table. I though that would have cured the problem but it has not. When he starts to get up from lying down he gets up on his front knees for a little bit before he will finally get up on his hind feet. It almost appears like a large hog sitting from a distance.

He has been in a corral alone for quite some time and wondered if anyone has any ideas or has experienced this problem.
 
It could be the feed or it could be a phenotype issue. What does he get to eat and do you have a good side view picture of him?
You can cause lameness by overloading them with grain but more common is structural unsoundness.
 
Sounds like it could be a spinal injury or pinched nerve. My vet said that spinal abscesses are common from infections in cattle. They can even have worm larvae migrate to the spinal cord. I am going through this with a cow right now. Her symptoms are much worse though. These are all of the things that we have considered with her. My only true way to diagnose her at this point would be an autopsy. But she is raising a big healthy calf and doing well otherwise, so I will give it time.
 
Weber Hickory Wood Chunks Outdoor Cooking Fuel, 4 lb – Premium BBQ Smoking & Grilling Chips for Rich, Subtly Sweet Flavor – Ideal for Beef, Lamb, Poultry & Pork – Long Lasting
See price on Amazon
Weber Hickory Wood Chunks Outdoor Cooking Fuel, 4 lb – Premium BBQ Smoking & Grilling Chips for Rich, Subtly Sweet Flavor – Ideal for Beef, Lamb, Poultry & Pork – Long Lasting
Old Potters Smoker Wood Chunks 13-16 lbs for Grilling, Smoking, and Wood Fire Cooking ~ 2 x 3 Inches, (Hickory, 790 Cu in.)
See price on Amazon
Old Potters Smoker Wood Chunks 13-16 lbs for Grilling, Smoking, and Wood Fire Cooking ~ 2 x 3 Inches, (Hickory, 790 Cu in.)
Hickory Pizza Oven Wood 6 Inch, 15 lbs Box – Kiln Dried & Bark-Free Firewood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ Smoking & Grilling – Premium Hickory Wood Logs for Ooni, Gozney, Solo Stove, Bertello
See price on Amazon
Hickory Pizza Oven Wood 6 Inch, 15 lbs Box – Kiln Dried & Bark-Free Firewood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ Smoking & Grilling – Premium Hickory Wood Logs for Ooni, Gozney, Solo Stove, Bertello
Firewood Central Kiln-Dried PA Hickory – 8” Splits (Approx 39.5 lb) – Bold Smoking Wood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ & Fire Pits – Easy Light, Low Smoke, USA Sourced
See price on Amazon
Firewood Central Kiln-Dried PA Hickory – 8” Splits (Approx 39.5 lb) – Bold Smoking Wood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ & Fire Pits – Easy Light, Low Smoke, USA Sourced
Firewood Central Kiln-Dried PA Hickory – 6” Splits (Approx. 42 lb) – Bold Smoking Wood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ & Fire Pits – Easy Light, Low Smoke, USA Sourced
See price on Amazon
Firewood Central Kiln-Dried PA Hickory – 6” Splits (Approx. 42 lb) – Bold Smoking Wood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ & Fire Pits – Easy Light, Low Smoke, USA Sourced
Greenworks 24V 6in BL Pruning Saw w/Auto Oiler, Tool Only
See price on Amazon
Greenworks 24V 6in BL Pruning Saw w/Auto Oiler, Tool Only
Old Potters Kiln Dried Firewood - Cherry, 1100 Cu. in, 16-18 Logs ~ 8" x 2.5" Logs. Solo Stove and Cooking Wood for Grilling, Smoking, and Firepits, Cherry.
See price on Amazon
Old Potters Kiln Dried Firewood - Cherry, 1100 Cu. in, 16-18 Logs ~ 8" x 2.5" Logs. Solo Stove and Cooking Wood for Grilling, Smoking, and Firepits, Cherry.
Heritage Smoke Wood Hickory Pizza Oven Wood with Fire Starter - Kiln Dried Firewood 6" Hardwood Logs for Brick Fire Pizza Ovens & Grills, 6 lb, Low Smoke, High Heat, Competition-Grade Clean Burn
See price on Amazon
Heritage Smoke Wood Hickory Pizza Oven Wood with Fire Starter - Kiln Dried Firewood 6" Hardwood Logs for Brick Fire Pizza Ovens & Grills, 6 lb, Low Smoke, High Heat, Competition-Grade Clean Burn
39" Fire Pits with Wood Storage for Outside, Large Wood Burning Outdoor Fireplace with Chimney, Mesh Spark Screen & Fire Poker, Idea for Backyard, Patio, Party, Camping, Picnic
See price on Amazon
39" Fire Pits with Wood Storage for Outside, Large Wood Burning Outdoor Fireplace with Chimney, Mesh Spark Screen & Fire Poker, Idea for Backyard, Patio, Party, Camping, Picnic
Smoak Firewood Cooking Wood Mini Splits - USDA Certified Kiln Dried Pizza Oven Wood, Grilling Wood, Smoking Wood, BBQing Wood (8inch Pieces, 25-30lbs 1728 Cubic in - Hickory)
See price on Amazon
Smoak Firewood Cooking Wood Mini Splits - USDA Certified Kiln Dried Pizza Oven Wood, Grilling Wood, Smoking Wood, BBQing Wood (8inch Pieces, 25-30lbs 1728 Cubic in - Hickory)
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change.
His front feet are fine and were trimmed at the same time his hind feet were. No foreign objects, redness or swelling was noted in the hind feet at that time.
He is not being fed an overload of grain. He is being fed hay and a small amount of grain.
Spinal injury seems very remote as he has been in a corral alone for quite awhile and not servicing cows or in the main herd.
I am interested in the situation with that of the cow belonging to branguscowgirl. Just wondering if a regimen of antibiotics could be in order.

I truly don't want to lose the bull. He is a registered Maine Anjou and placed first in his class at the Del Mar Fair in San Diego County. Unfortunately we do not have a great amount of vets dedicated to serving cattle in this area.
 
Might try a shot of banamine, and put some aspirin in his feed. If it does help then he's got some kind of injury, or swelling in his back, it might go away after some time, and rest.
 
Where, are you located?
Lots of informed guessing at this point--and understandably so. Vets are expensive, but from your description, so is this bull, and the longer this goes on, the more $$ you will have tied up in him and you may never get to use him if he doesn't improve. You could end up with a registered bull that you end up selling for slaughter price. Not what you want I'm sure.
You really need to get him to a vet, especially since you want to keep him. It's less expensive to haul him or get someone else to haul him to a vet in most cases around here.

Otherwise...
If you can, post some pictures or even better, get one of the young people in your area to make a youtube video of him trying to get up. If your local highschool has a vocational ag course, I imagine one of the students or one of the 4h/ffa folks can and will do this for you if you don't know how---- (I don't know how to post video either.)
 
Brole7":3lrdbn6y said:
His front feet are fine and were trimmed at the same time his hind feet were. No foreign objects, redness or swelling was noted in the hind feet at that time.
He is not being fed an overload of grain. He is being fed hay and a small amount of grain.
Spinal injury seems very remote as he has been in a corral alone for quite awhile and not servicing cows or in the main herd.
I am interested in the situation with that of the cow belonging to branguscowgirl. Just wondering if a regimen of antibiotics could be in order.

I truly don't want to lose the bull. He is a registered Maine Anjou and placed first in his class at the Del Mar Fair in San Diego County. Unfortunately we do not have a great amount of vets dedicated to serving cattle in this area.
Click to expand...
Brole7 I did a couple courses of Antibiotics, Dexamethesone, and tube wormed her for migrating larvae. I have had 3 vets looking at her. Now only time will tell if the problem is permanent. She was my State Fair Res. Champion Cow/Calf and out of my very exceptional cow. So I am heart broken!
 
I had an Angus bull that was very straight in his back legs, posty legged. I did not like his conformation and just used him for a back up bull. Eventually he became unsound because of his conformation. He was definitely gone in a gaskin and probably elsewhere. He would rest first one back leg by lifting it off the ground, and then the other. He was in pain so I took him to the meatworks.

One of the reasons the hooves can become long is that the animal has changed how he is standing because he has an unsoundness. While bad hoof shape can cause unsoundness, unsoundness can also cause abnormal hoof shape.

Does your bull trot sound?

From your description and that he gets up front end first it sounds like he may be sore.
If he was mine I would not rely on him to work cows.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top