Laminitis in Bulls

[Raider112]

Any suggestions on what to do with 2 bulls with laminitis? They are on an ad lib barley ration and are a decent size. In the past we've castrated the odd one and turned them out to grass, we got them away but they never got fully mobile again. These two are probably too big to castrate so looking for a way out for them by keeping them in. A change of diet I presume but to what? and what is the most effective treatment?

 

[Northeastfarmer]

You need some bicarb in the diet
If they’ve got laminitis now then best to hang them up

 

[M-J-G]

You'll likely need a vet certificate if they are lame, assuming they can walk at all.

If they can't be killed, you need to throw them into reverse, give them hay or straw until they can walk fairly normally then build them up again slowly.

 

[Lincs Lass]

Neighbors has a horse that is prone to it ,,she feeds it wilted willow leaves on the branch ,,seems to work

 

[Northeastfarmer]

You'll likely need a vet certificate if they are lame, assuming they can walk at all.

If they can't be killed, you need to throw them into reverse, give them hay or straw until they can walk fairly normally then build them up again slowly.

I’ll be surprised if they are lame enough to warrant a vet certificate
Most walk on their tip toes

 

[gone up the hill]

Any suggestions on what to do with 2 bulls with laminitis? They are on an ad lib barley ration and are a decent size. In the past we've castrated the odd one and turned them out to grass, we got them away but they never got fully mobile again. These two are probably too big to castrate so looking for a way out for them by keeping them in. A change of diet I presume but to what? and what is the most effective treatment?

Bicarb, give them about 180/200 a day for about a week/10 days then cut back to 80 a day.

If it works they should scour for a few days after its put in the diet but that will only be for a few days.

Don't get a vets certificate for them, if you do you will end up getting less for them than the vets charges will be!

 

[M-J-G]

Bicarb, give them about 180/200 a day for about a week/10 days then cut back to 80 a day.

If it works they should scour for a few days after its put in the diet but that will only be for a few days.

Don't get a vets certificate for them, if you do you will end up getting less for them than the vets charges will be!

Vet cert for a lame animal is £50 here, and the animal goes on to make what it normally would.
It just means that you have no grief from vets at slaughter plant.

If the animals are near the killing stage it will probably loose £50 of weight by the time you keep it treat it and it gets back on track.

If it's only a very mild case like @Northeastfarmer described, I wouldn't bother and just kill it on Monday and if it's too young you'd probably sort it quite easily.

 

[casper74]

I usually sell them, they normally sell well to be fair, I've never found anything works to cure it, so don't really bother now just sell them when they get a bit of size to them.

 

[Hampton]

I normally sell them at about 500-540kg. They seem to cope until then but then put no more weight on

 

[Raider112]

I’ll be surprised if they are lame enough to warrant a vet certificate
Most walk on their tip toes

Walking on tiptoes and a bit stiff legged, a vet certificate can prevent a problem at the other end but if the interpretation is putting weight on all four legs to be fit to travel then they do that easily enough. The problem is that it's one mans opinion on the day. We have 2 abattoirs very local to us.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Walking on tiptoes and a bit stiff legged, a vet certificate can prevent a problem at the other end but if the interpretation is putting weight on all four legs to be fit to travel then they do that easily enough. The problem is that it's one mans opinion on the day. We have 2 abattoirs very local to us.

What weight are they now? Are they big enough to kill?
I wouldn’t bother with a vet certificate

 

[Raider112]

You'll likely need a vet certificate if they are lame, assuming they can walk at all.

If they can't be killed, you need to throw them into reverse, give them hay or straw until they can walk fairly normally then build them up again slowly.

Would they slip back into the same problem in your experience by building them back to their old diet or does the break do the job?

 

[gone up the hill]

Vet cert for a lame animal is £50 here, and the animal goes on to make what it normally would.
It just means that you have no grief from vets at slaughter plant.

If the animals are near the killing stage it will probably loose £50 of weight by the time you keep it treat it and it gets back on track.

If it's only a very mild case like @Northeastfarmer described, I wouldn't bother and just kill it on Monday and if it's too young you'd probably sort it quite easily.

Your in Scotland mind!

Down here they have different rules, last time I tried to get a vet to let a bull with bad feet travel he refused, putting weight on all four legs and the lorry driver was happy to take him so sent him anyway, didn't get any trouble at the other end.

 

[gone up the hill]

Would they slip back into the same problem in your experience by building them back to their old diet or does the break do the job?

Feed them bicarb and you wont get any problems once they get better.

( as long as you keep feeding the bicarb )

 

[Raider112]

What weight are they now? Are they big enough to kill?
I wouldn’t bother with a vet certificate

Probably 450 ish, so a bit small to kill but maybe the best way out?

 

[gone up the hill]

Probably 450 ish, so a bit small to kill but maybe the best way out?

No run them on.

What weight do you normally get them to and what diet are you feeding them?

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Probably 450 ish, so a bit small to kill but maybe the best way out?

They are a bit light but they take an age to get to weight once they get laminitis

 

[M-J-G]

Would they slip back into the same problem in your experience by building them back to their old diet or does the break do the job?

If they've had it once they are more likely to get it again as the laminae is damaged.

I've not used bicarb, but I'd say you'd have to add it to keep them safe.

 

[Raider112]

Your in Scotland mind!

Down here they have different rules, last time I tried to get a vet to let a bull with bad feet travel he refused, putting weight on all four legs and the lorry driver was happy to take him so sent him anyway, didn't get any trouble at the other end.

Now I come to think, our vets don't give a certificate now, they will just give a diagnosis and it's your call so a waste of time.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

@Adam@Rumen do you sell bicarb