My Heier 4yrs old is locking up please help

Christmasflcows

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My 4 year old Heifer when we first purchased her
Seemed to have a little problem with her right back
Leg, she was then pregnant with her first Calf and the vet
Said it appeared to be some nerve damage.

It gets better while pregnant still stretching it back and dragging
It sometimes this all goes on during entire
Pregnancy. After birth of first calf it seems
To be some what worse until calf was weened.

She has since had calf #2 and appeared
To be getting worse REALLY dragging the leg as if
It is stiff and I can hear it pop now on occasion today she is
Dragging both back legs then walks some and keeps this
Pattern goes on the same. She has been in our back 2.5 Acres all her
Life she gets Hay bales as a supplement and mineral
Blocks everything she would need.

Her calf is only 2 mths old and she is otherwise
Appearing healthy he is still nursing etc it is killing
Me to see her dragging legs all of a sudden to this degree..
ANY advice?
 

WildRoseBeef

Range nerd & bovine enthusiast
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Sounds like this "heifer" of yours (at this age she'd be known as a cow) may have been a whoopsie at one time or other, and subsequently got injured real bad trying to deliver such a large calf at a young age, and of course the original owner thought it best not to tell you. I may be wrong, but from the way you're describing your situation, it's possible. I've a feeling the first calf of hers wasn't a first calf, but rather a second or even a third. She wouldn't've gotten that sort of injury anywhere else except at calving, at least not that I can think of. And I do agree with the vet, it definitely sounds like nerve damage, nerve damage that is caused by her giving birth to a really big calf or having to go through a really hard birth prior to you getting her.

Don't quote me on this, but those are just my thoughts.

As what to do with her, I think it's in her best interests to never breed her again, and maybe even turn her into hamburger once her calf is old enough to be weaned. Nerve damage in a cow is impossible to fix, and if it gets progressively worse she'll be down and not be able to get back up again. At that point, it's best to put her down out of her misery and invest in another, more healthier cow.

JMHO.
 

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