Steer wont eat

Tony292

Member
I bought two steers and one heifer this spring.

last week I loaded One of each and brought them to auction. The last steer, the one to be butchered, is now throwing fits. he won’t eat, won’t stop mooing, etc. he won’t even touch grain!

What do you recommend to calm him down and stimulate his appetite for the six weeks until his date with the butcher?
 
Tony,

It sounds to me like he's just going through weaning again. I'd leave him alone for a few days. Keep food and water available for him, and I'd bet that he'll get over it in less than five days.

But then again, it's your steer, not mine.

Tom in TN
 
The way I see it, you've got two choices:

1. Cut your losses. Either take the steer to the sale barn, or the butcher ASAP.

2. Wait and hope he snaps out of it.

Calling the vet is a waste of money. It's an old joke, but there's a reason they call it a "practice."

Eating problems with bovine animals are rarely "psychological" in my experience.
 
He's lonely. There's also a possibility all the bawling could help initiate pneumonia. Not common, but possible. Pneumonia can also cause bloat, but that sounds unlikely. If he seems healthy other than the appetite, I'd give him a couple more days. If he sounds wheezy, absolutely call a vet unless you feel comfortable treating on your own.
 

I wish I could bring them back, this dude is a bawling mess... never thought cows could have such drama!
 
Just a shot in the dark here, but an obstruction in
the throat can cause that, BTDT. Had to tie a cow
to a post and run my arm down throat, found piece
of a cast iron pot lodged with feed piled on top until
cow just wouldn?t try to eat anymore. My vet had
suggested I do it and he was right. Cow was fine
after the fix. I was born and raised on a cattle ranch
and that?s why I have nothing to do with cattle
anymore. Anyway good luck with it.
 
it's always easier with 2, he is missing his buddies, put something in with him, even a goat or sheep will do
 
We had Ferdinand and Canonball. If one could not see the other, they would call for each other. We only had to tie or stake one of them, because the other wasn't going to leave him.
 

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