Limping Steer

[Annoth]

I'm having problems with my steer. Within the last week or 2 I've started to "finish" him for his show in mid March. He was eating 100% Purina Fitter's Edge which is 14% protein, 2.45 fat and was being supplmented with 2 lbs of cottonseed hulls and 2 of barely. Now he eats a 50 50 mix of Fitter's Edge and Finishing Tough (13% protein i think and 5% fat still all the grains). Just on Monday morning he started to limp a little. Now he stumbles and staggers constantly because he's trying so hard not to use that leg. I've touched from wither to pastern on both front legs and no reactions. I've picked up his hooves and couldnt find any pins or tacks nor hoof disease. I dont know what could really cause this other than reaction to the increase in fat for his feed. I increased it by introducing a pound per day and upped it by 1 lbs per night time feeding) The same day I saw him limping I closed him into his sandy shelter where his water and feed rack is. There's not a whole lot of room to move and it's dry. Should I just let him rest or is there something that can be done? I've started giving him double strength Glucosimine (a human joint supplement recommended to me) thinking maybe his joints arent keeping up with his gains but that'll take a few doses before anything really happens good or bad. Will be calling vet soon but in the meantime I want to ease his discomfort. It doesnt even look like he's in pain, just walking weird.

[Annoth]

(edit button isnt working on my end)

I just got back a few minutes ago from giving his evening care. Despite warmer and dry conditions compared to the last few many weeks, his body is still becoming very wet but I thought cattle could only sweat on their nose? He is also radiating much more heat than normal. Like I just took out of a sunny pasture in July (it's Texas. That whould be one hot steer) and it was misty at the same time. He's also limping worse yet. He's becoming extremely lame extremely fast and I'm too anxious to hear what the vet has to say once my appointment comes around.

[G. Seddon]

Originally Posted by Annoth

....Will be calling vet soon but in the meantime I want to ease his discomfort....

Good idea.

[Karin L]

I'm betting it's laminitis from the grain feeding, and I doubt if it's from the fat--more from the carbohydrate with the grain. Yes it does happen in cattle too.

The heat is from the high energy content of the feed you're giving him. The higher the energy in the feedstuff, the more heat he'll give off.

The fat content in the feeds you're giving him combined seem a bit high. You're almost meeting the maximum amount of fat you should feed to your steer (which is ~8%. I'm also not sure about breed or type), generally it's best to feed lower amounts of fat than what you're feeding him since it's literally unusable to the microbes in his rumen until it reaches the abomasum and small intestine.

Even though this post is really late, I couldn't resist saying something about it.