OT: injured bull calf

tjdub · Jul 6, 2012

Not really much I can do at this point, but I just thought I would ask to see if anyone has had a similar experience so I know what's going to come, because this is a new one on me.

One my my biggest bull calves (born April 1st) was trying to play with the big boys and one of my 2 herd bulls must have tried a little too hard to teach him a lesson because it looks like he has a broken rear ankle. He can still get around, but you can hear cracking when he walks and his right-rear paw seems to be curved a bit sideways.

Any chance he'll ever heal up enough to be sellable? I'm thinking right now that the best case scenario is that I'll just keep him as a steer with the herd and put him in the freezer. Worst case being that he dies.

Deere Scotty · Jul 7, 2012

I think You"d better fill the freezer with him. The leg will be a problem for years. Will he break it on frozen ground, or in another fight again. You wont rest well wondering every day what might happen. I cant tell You the odds of complete healing; but if it was an older animal that didnt move around to begin with the odds would probably be in Your favor. A young playful animal isnt going to sit still while it heals! I wish You luck if You try though!

Anonymous-0 · Jul 7, 2012

If you don't do anything, you'll never know... Thing is, if it fills with fluid, it won't be long before it's infected... Had a little goat once with a similar injury and taped it up good with duct tape and gave it a set of penicillin shots and it turned out fine. Still livin at the neighbor's place 7 years later...

Good Luck.

Nebraska Cowman · Jul 7, 2012

I'd leave him alone. It should heal up on it's own. A nursing calf will knit bones pretty fast. I had a baby calf a few years ago broke a leg clear off. By midsummer you could not tell which one it was.

donjr · Jul 7, 2012

I'm with Nebraska. Calves heal pretty quick. I might put him in a pen and keep him quiet for a few days, but he'll likely be ok. I fhe starts to go downhill, get him to the butchershop quick- they won't take downers anymore.

rrlund · Jul 7, 2012

I've had it go both ways. I backed in to a holstein heifer one time and broke her back ankle. It swelled up,got hard and healed. She bred alright and milked. Her foot just looked like it wasn't quite on straight,but no limp and no problem.

On the other hand,I broke a bull calf's front ankle a few years ago when I used too much force pulling him. I tried setting it and splinting it,but he started getting magots in it,so I unwrapped it. He did amazingly well with it. It never did heal,but we slaughtered him for our own use when he was big enough.

Texasmark1 · Jul 7, 2012

Since they rely on their hind legs to breed, he is probably locker material. If you sold him otherwise in a sale that's one thing. To a private individual I would think that you owed him to know the fact.

Mark

TLZ · Jul 7, 2012

I had a cow this past winter which had the same problem on one back ankle. Don't know if she slipped on ice or pushing around with another. I left her, she still ate, drank and got around ok. Took about 6-7 weeks until she looked better. In my case it seemed more like a dislocation then a break, her back ankle was at a 30 degree angle inwards.(yours may be the same) the swelling may of had to go down enough before it went back into joint . She had a calf this spring and all has been fine. Maybe treat with some anti infamitorries to help with swelling.
Good luck hope it turns out
Todd

retired farmer · Jul 7, 2012

We had a new baby bull calf early this spring. A few hours after it was born the mother stepped on its right front leg just above the knee joint and broke the bone. Called the vet and she came out and put a cast on the leg. Left it on for two months. Healed up fine.

rrlund · Jul 7, 2012

Not to hijack the post,but I found a bull calf last night that had me laying awake for a while in the middle of the night. It's been 100 degrees plus,all the cows and all but that one calf were up in the barn. I found him by himself down in the brush near the far end of the pasture,panting and frothing at the mouth a little. Big trouble was,he had blood running down the side of his head. I thought he'd ripped his ear tag out,but he had a huge gash where the ear is attached to the head. It had congealed,but he looked rough. I tried to drive him up,but he went out in the little bit of knee deep mud that was there. There was just a little bit of algae soaked water here and there and he went right after it. I had to get him out of there,if he'd have gone down,he'd have been done for. I finally got him out and back in the brush and left him.
He was up with the cows and the rest of the calves this morning. Mama had him cleaned up,but that ear is hanging kind of low. He's not real chipper,but he's alive.
Things can sure go south in a hurry sometimes.

Anonymous-0 · Jul 7, 2012

neighbor had a calf break left rear leg at the first joint. Against everyones advice he did nothing and apparently the swelling held the bone in place. Healed up just fine - I wouldn't of believed it.

OT: injured bull calf

tjdub

Member

Deere Scotty

Member

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

Nebraska Cowman

Well-known Member

donjr

Well-known Member

rrlund

Well-known Member

Texasmark1

Well-known Member

TLZ

Member

retired farmer

Well-known Member

rrlund

Well-known Member

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

Similar threads