Nubian buck down in pasterns?

Tam319 · #1 01/08/08, 11:35 AM

Hi everyone,

I was wondering if anyone has observed their buck being down in the pasterns during rut? Any idea what may be causing this? And will he tighten back up post-breeding season when he's not putting so much of his resources towards being a studmuffin?

Thanks,
Tamara

susanne · #2 01/08/08, 11:38 AM

tam what mineral do you have out for your bucks?
sometimes an animal needs selenium to correct this.
weak pastern can also be genetic.

Tam319 · #3 01/08/08, 11:53 AM

Hi Susanne,

They are on a goat specific mineral that was specifically formulated for our area with extra selenium. It is a loose mineral, free choice of course. It seems to be getting worse as the winter progresses.

Tam

susanne · #4 01/08/08, 12:49 PM

how much copper is in the mineral? can you post a picture from your buck?
in times like this bucks need more minerals because being in rut and low temperature cost a lot of energy.

Tam319 · #5 01/08/08, 02:08 PM

The mineral we have them on has:
Copper (Actual) 600 mg/kg

I don't have a current picture of his pasterns...here are some from last summer:
http://www.taylormadepetcare.com/ravenwoodAras.html

Would you say it is more likely because of the demand on the body during rut and the need for additional mineral supplementation? I know in pups who are growing and under a lot of stress it isn't uncommon for them to be down in the pasterns. I was wondering if goats are prone to the same thing when their bodies are under stress and demand.

Thanks!
Tam

southerngurl · #6 01/08/08, 02:37 PM

That's very interesting. I have a little buck that just started going down on his hind pasterns, not too bad though. They were fine before... he just started coming into rut. Hmmm. I have been giving him selenium crumbles the last few days.

susanne · #7 01/08/08, 04:02 PM

tam you have some very nice animals

yes i believe that the nutritional requirements are higher if in rut and in winter.
i have my goats on sweetlix mineral meat maker and still need to bolus them in spring. the color change after the bolus is just amazing.
of course you are in a different area, what works for me, might not be the case for you. maybe you can find some breeder in your area?

southerngurl when you say your little buck , i assume he is still growing?
do you have a picture?
sometimes wrong hoof trimming can make them go down in the pastern as well.