fattening bullock with a bad leg

Tomjim

I have a bullock about 2.5 yrs old. when he was a weanling I noticed he hurt his leg one day, I put it down to him being after a cow that was round, there never appeared to be anything wrong with his leg up to this.

It now appears that the bad leg is shorter than his good leg

I am now giving him bout 6 kgs of meal per day to fatten him. The thing is however that he is putting more weight on his good side than his bad side, he looks nearly finished on his good side whereas on his bad side he is not filling out as well (in or around his kidneys)

Could it be that his muscles are not developed here and hence he is not putting on the weight.

I am concerned that factory could reject him - is this possible

1chippy

we sent in one with three legs a few years back, shouldnt see any reason they would reject him once he can walk in. i wouldnt leave him round the yard too long though.

greysides

It's probably a disuse atrophy of the muscles concerned. He won't grade as he otherwise would but there is no reason for the factory to refure him.

Bizzum

Killed one during the year with a similar story. He broke his leg as a weanling. You'll see the difference on the sides weights on the docket but otherwise there shouldn't be an issue if he walks up the chute.

Dozer1

I saw a bullock with only 3 legs like 1chippy had killed in ABP Rathkeale during the year, the owner was from Kerry said ABP were the only ones who agreed to take him. he was stone mad but flew into the yard anyway.