Post by sawnut on Apr 28, 2016 17:46:57 GMT -5
I'd be pushing minerals to him. He may just need Magnesium and Calcium. If he were previously fed a lot of corn and little hay, his mineral reserves may be completely depleted. The improvements your Vet seen after giving him Vitamins is encouraging.
If you can, force feed 4-8 ounces per day of loose all purpose stock mineral. Add to that 2-8 teaspoons of Epsom Salts (available at Walmart, a source of Magnesium). Add 8 ounces to 1 Lb of Red Lake Earth Diatomaceous Earth. Mix it with 2-4 cups liquid molasses to improve palatability and warm water to mix it to a consistency of wet cement. Mix with his favorite grain or feed plain.
You can up the Epsom Salts until his poop rainbows about a foot behind his feet. When you see his manure loose like that, you know he is getting plenty of Mag. I wouldn't worry about the loss of feed efficiency for a few days. If you see his staggering improve, you can back off Epsom salts until you are feeding 1 teaspoon minimum per day. You might have to feed minerals for quite a while. If you quit feeding minerals, he may relapse. He appears to be a big steer so, he may need to consume 50 lbs of mineral to get back on his feet.
The good news is, if minerals are his problem, then the cost to help him out is only going to be $35.00 or so for supplies and you should see results in 7-10 days if this is his problem.
I would really be surprised if he hurt his back going under a fence. I've butchered cows myself and their backs are extremely stout. I would think they would be in extreme pain before they could 'break' anything. I have seen my mini cows crawl under 2x4 fence rails and bench press them till they snap like toothpicks. Anyhow, I hope this encourages you to keep trying to keep him around and get him healthy before putting him in your freezer.
If you can, force feed 4-8 ounces per day of loose all purpose stock mineral. Add to that 2-8 teaspoons of Epsom Salts (available at Walmart, a source of Magnesium). Add 8 ounces to 1 Lb of Red Lake Earth Diatomaceous Earth. Mix it with 2-4 cups liquid molasses to improve palatability and warm water to mix it to a consistency of wet cement. Mix with his favorite grain or feed plain.
You can up the Epsom Salts until his poop rainbows about a foot behind his feet. When you see his manure loose like that, you know he is getting plenty of Mag. I wouldn't worry about the loss of feed efficiency for a few days. If you see his staggering improve, you can back off Epsom salts until you are feeding 1 teaspoon minimum per day. You might have to feed minerals for quite a while. If you quit feeding minerals, he may relapse. He appears to be a big steer so, he may need to consume 50 lbs of mineral to get back on his feet.
The good news is, if minerals are his problem, then the cost to help him out is only going to be $35.00 or so for supplies and you should see results in 7-10 days if this is his problem.
I would really be surprised if he hurt his back going under a fence. I've butchered cows myself and their backs are extremely stout. I would think they would be in extreme pain before they could 'break' anything. I have seen my mini cows crawl under 2x4 fence rails and bench press them till they snap like toothpicks. Anyhow, I hope this encourages you to keep trying to keep him around and get him healthy before putting him in your freezer.