Does walking help a calf that pops in his joints?

[Montana show girl]

Haven't had much experience yet with cattle that pop in there joints and wondering if walking helps, makes it worse, or doesn't do anything.

 

[Simmgal]

If the joint popping is due to confirmation then you really can't do a whole lot for it, unfortunately. Show animal or production animal?

 

[Chuck Wagon]

Dont waste your money on lubricyn, it doesnt work on the pastern. go to jeffers and buy replamen gel.  give  them the recommended dosage once a week and every other day a few days before a show

you will see improvement

 

[Montana show girl]

he's a show calf. Also this just started happening and it's only one his left back leg.hes always walked really good and been really sound. He's sired by fu man chu.

 

[Gargan]

I think exercise does help . Is your calf getting turned out every day?

 

[OH Showman]

Running a calf or at least making them trot can stretch out a Pastern a quite a bit. The fact that he only pops one makes me question as to whether he might have just a touch of foot rot on that one hoof. That can make them want to roll their pastern/hoof wall a little bit if it's not a severe case. Worth checking into, but otherwise plenty of exercise is the best thing for them and know that some cattle do go through stages in which it can take joints a little extra time to catch up with the amount of mass the calf is carrying. If he has the right angles and it is just a stage thing then he ought to be fine by the time he grows and gets older.

 

[CRS]

We had this happen last year and our vet said that it was most likely a vitamin/mineral deficiency, so he had us give multimin and it got better in a couple of days and a few weeks later it was gone.  She is perfect on her feet and legs now.

 

[Chuck Wagon]

When is the last time you trimmed the hoofs?

 

[Montana show girl]

Thanks for the info . He does not get turned out but does get walked and we practice showmanship because our first show is next weekend. His feet where trimmed about 4 months ago. I have heard to give him a little shot of bose.

 

[shortyjock89]

Best thing for the calf would be making him walk for food and water and hay. We set up our turn out paddocks so the hay is in the furthest corner from the entry gate,  the water at the gate,  and we feed inside or have it as far from the other two as possible.