Hock issues

[mozarkian]

I am kinda sorta looking for a fourth Jersey cow. Don't ask me why, can't answer that yet...
There is one being culled from a dairy for low production. She is 5, in late lactation and will calve in January, giving about 2 gallons per milking. She is a bit on the thin side, but appears healthy except for her hocks being malformed. Hard to explain and didn't think to take a photo, but her hocks look like there is a ball on the end of the bone, a little smaller than a golf ball. Both hocks, same way, feels like bone, doesn't bother her when I push or squeeze the area. It's not hot, or inflamed, and is hard like bone.
The dairy owner says he bought her same way, and it doesnt affect her in any way. Her hooves and feet are fine, and she walks normally--even saw her chase the guy's dog, so it obviously doesn't hurt her.

What would cause this? Thanks in advance.

[eggzackly]

Tuber Calcis?

Increased incidence wth the wrong kind of bedding, and increases over time. Google it.

Edit: PS, don't have, never had, probably never will have cattle. Did a quick search for bony hocks in cattle.

[mozarkian]

eggzackly, when I google tuber calcis is speaks of abrasions to the hock, and there is no abrasion or scarring from past abrasions so this is probably something else. (I appreciate your effort though!)
In researching this I keep finding references to use of BGH, etc -- since she was purchased from a dairy by another dairy as a relatively young cow, I wonder if she or her dam would have been injected with bst and this would be caused by that? One of the articles is excerpted below with a link back to the entire article.

http://www.mindfully.org/GE/RBGH-Ala...TestsJul95.htm

Dr. David Kronfeld wrote: "The POSILAC® package insert confirmed that the Rural Vermont report correctly identified six of the 21 side effects:

retained placentas and uterine infections ('disorders of the uterus' in the POSILAC® language), '1 hoof rot ('disorders of the foot'),

foot/leg injury ('enlarged hocks and lesions ... of the knee'),

ketosis ('off-feed'),

abomasal surgery ('indigestion'), and
increased medication ('increased frequency of use of medication').
'Monsanto's scientists and academic consultant-contractees, notably those at UVM and Cornell, have repeatedly denied such adverse health effects of BGH, and their failure to tell the whole truth has been confirmed by the side-effects listed on the package insert of POSILAC®"80

Were it not for the Rural Vermont report, he effects of rBGH on animal health would probably

[mozarkian]

also seeing that past vitamin d deficiency could cause the hock to enlarge...however she has no pain or stiffness and her coat, eyes, etc all look very healthy, just a bit thinner than I like to see a cow be.

http://www.dsm.com/en_US/html/dnpna/..._vit_d_def.htm

In older animals with vitamin D deficiency (osteomalacia), bones become weak and fracture easily, and posterior paralysis may accompany vertebral fractures. For dairy cattle, milk production may be decreased and estrus inhibited by inadequate vitamin D (NRC, 1989). Cows fed a vitamin D-deficient diet and kept out of direct sunlight showed definite signs of vitamin D deficiency within six to 10 months (Wallis, 1944). Functions that deplete vitamin D are high milk production and advancing pregnancy, especially during the last few months before calving. The visible signs of vitamin D deficiency in dairy cows are similar to those of rickets in calves. The animal begins to show stiffness in her limbs and joints, which makes it difficult to walk, lie down and get up. The knees, hocks, and other joints become swollen, tender and stiff. The knees often spring forward, the posterior joints straighten, and the animal is tilted forward on her toes. The hair coat becomes coarse and rough and there is an overall appearance of unthriftiness (Wallis, 1944). As the deficiency advances, the spine and back often become stiff, arched and humped. In deficient herds, calving rates are lower, and calves can be born dead or weak. Hypocalcemia, either milk fever (parturient hypocalcemia) or unexplained lactational hypocalcemia and paresis, may also be observed as a result of chronic vitamin D deficiency in dairy cattle. These signs are also produced by calcium, phosphorus or electrolyte deficiency or imbalances and are therefore not specific to vitamin D deficiency.