Hurt her back, now what?

Kileir

Hi, Have a 16 month old Belgian Blue heifer about 400kgs. She has hurt her back/shoulder jumping on her comrades. She can just about get to her feet with a lot of effort but then falls off to one side on her rear quarter. If she could walk up the ramp I'd have her off to the factory immediately but she can't. She's eating and drinking around herself and has had no injections etc so fit to slaughter. Any what to do with her are welcome, I've had more than enough losses this year already and don't want her to end up in the knackery..

Miname

Kileir wrote: »

Hi, Have a 16 month old Belgian Blue heifer about 400kgs. She has hurt her back/shoulder jumping on her comrades. She can just about get to her feet with a lot of effort but then falls off to one side on her rear quarter. If she could walk up the ramp I'd have her off to the factory immediately but she can't. She's eating and drinking around herself and has had no injections etc so fit to slaughter. Any what to do with her are welcome, I've had more than enough losses this year already and don't want her to end up in the knackery..

Contact your local butcher, if he kills his own he may buy her, it usually isn't prime money but it's better than the knackery in most cases.

greysides

Patience.

frogloch

Is she able to put any weight at all on her leg, she could have one of a few things wrong with her. Her hip could be out and if it is you can get them put back in with bonesetters etc. Her leg could be broken, some people say you can get vet to put cast on, I never did one here so don't know if it works. Maybe you could get someone to butcher her for yourself other than that maybe some of the other posters can offer advice.

Just reread your post it sounds like her back and would agree with greysides and give her time.

Markcheese

Have you had the vet out ? Does she look like she's uncomfortable ?
If she's not in distress, keep her well fed and watered and some other stock in with her- and wait -

kupus

As above patience is the key. Separate her from the rest and keep her calm. Meant to say keep the quiet ones around her and remove the hyper jumpy ones. There is injections I can't for the life of me think of the name of it. Somebody else should know.
It could take a week for her to recover even more but hopefully she'll come around.

CloughCasey1

greysides wrote: »

Patience.

Tried that before with a bullock bout 15 mts. A few freshly squeezed lads were let into field with him and a few more. Next morning one of them hobbling badly. Could have got local butcher at that stage but he got worse and lost all movement in back legs.

selectamatic

As said above patience is very important as long as there are no broken bones there's a good chance she could make a full recovery. The best advice you can get will be from your vet he/she is the only one that will be able to tell ya the full extent of her injuries. The slings that hang from loaders to literally suspend cattle in a standing stance with little to no load bearing weight are supposed to be great for leg injuries as they get the blood circulating as normal. It's usually done for timed sessions such as have her up for half an hour twice a day or something like that, again your vet will know the best course of action though for sure.

selectamatic

CloughCasey1 wrote: »

Tried that before with a bullock bout 15 mts. A few freshly squeezed lads were let into field with him and a few more. Next morning one of them hobbling badly. Could have got local butcher at that stage but he got worse and lost all movement in back legs.

That sounds a bit more like a disease such as black leg or something along them lines or else nerve damage. An impact injury such as the op's can come good over time.

mf240

Ya shes young and light. Not like a cow down.

Plus shes out in the field.

Id be hopefull she would come right.

Kileir

Just to clarify, she has had injury approx 3 weeks now and has gotten worst if anything. Initially she could walk some few steps and seemed to improve somewhat but has gone backwards this last few days. We're keeping her fed and watered and she is in a fresh paddock with two small 12mt old angus heifers.

deerejohn

Anytime I saw a young animal in bother, the game is up, it is just a pic but stifle looks wrong, it's looks collapsed, exit strategy as others have listed above, I am close to 100% sure she is done.

frogloch

Kileir wrote: »

Just to clarify, she has had injury approx 3 weeks now and has gotten worst if anything. Initially she could walk some few steps and seemed to improve somewhat but has gone backwards this last few days. We're keeping her fed and watered and she is in a fresh paddock with two small 12mt old angus heifers.

Try and get her butchered as quick as you can at least you won't have to pay knackery charges.

tanko

Kileir wrote: »

Just to clarify, she has had injury approx 3 weeks now and has gotten worst if anything. Initially she could walk some few steps and seemed to improve somewhat but has gone backwards this last few days. We're keeping her fed and watered and she is in a fresh paddock with two small 12mt old angus heifers.

Have you had a vet look at her?

AP2014

Kileir wrote: »

Just to clarify, she has had injury approx 3 weeks now and has gotten worst if anything. Initially she could walk some few steps and seemed to improve somewhat but has gone backwards this last few days. We're keeping her fed and watered and she is in a fresh paddock with two small 12mt old angus heifers.

Get some burgers and roasts out of her fairly quickly. Empty the freezer and fill up. Get the neighbours sorted as well. Game is up. Ya may have left it too late.

Cavanjack

Kileir wrote: »

Just to clarify, she has had injury approx 3 weeks now and has gotten worst if anything. Initially she could walk some few steps and seemed to improve somewhat but has gone backwards this last few days. We're keeping her fed and watered and she is in a fresh paddock with two small 12mt old angus heifers.

My experience is if they are not right in a couple of weeks they will never be right. Plenty of times it has happened here. What part of the country You in? Think there is a lad in Meath that advertises on done deal looking for the likes of her and one in Longford too.

selectamatic

Kileir wrote: »

Just to clarify, she has had injury approx 3 weeks now and has gotten worst if anything. Initially she could walk some few steps and seemed to improve somewhat but has gone backwards this last few days. We're keeping her fed and watered and she is in a fresh paddock with two small 12mt old angus heifers.

Sorry to say but I wouldn't hold much hope for her. I assumed it was only after happening. 3 weeks is an awful long time for a young beast like her to have shown no improvement.

Jimlh86

Had the exact same thing with a cow during the spring. We lifted her everyday with a "daisy lifter" and front loader twice a day! Keep her in it for an hour or so letting her take some of her weight she'll graze away, let he off then she should stand alone for a while but it will be a longer period each time. Bit of a pain but patience paid off she's up stronger than ever now!

Jimlh86

Also took us a month or so

whelan2

Cavanjack wrote: »

My experience is if they are not right in a couple of weeks they will never be right. Plenty of times it has happened here. What part of the country You in? Think there is a lad in Meath that advertises on done deal looking for the likes of her and one in Longford too.

just be careful with these guys it can be hard to get paid. you also need to get your vet to certify that the animal is fit for human consumption. which would mean a vet visit. Good luck with her