Front leg conformation issue, mineral deficiency, or what??

1016 Views 17 Replies 5 Participants Last post by toth boer goats, Jan 28, 2022

farmerbritt

Discussion Starter · Jan 27, 2022

Hello! I recently purchased this 8 month old Nubian buck; ADGA registered, sweet as can be. At the farm I purchased him from I gave him a good look and feel (or so I thought…) though the day after I brought him home both my husband and I noticed him walking funny in his front legs…. He places them to the outside of his chest so that it looks like he’s “being careful” or trying to keep his balance, if that makes sense. He can and will stand with both legs straight down underneath him, though he tends to have one out to the side as though it’s more comfortable. I’m kicking myself for not noticing this at his original farm, though reviewing pictures I distinctly see that neither his brother or sire have this issue. Could this be a mineral deficiency? Past injury (I doubt that)? Or is it likely just a conformation issue. Thanks in advance!

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Jubillee

· #2 · Jan 27, 2022

Well, it could be mineral/feed-related. You won't really know that until he's had good minerals and gets a good bit of weight on him. He does need a good bit more of weight for an 8-month-old. Once you get his minerals and weight corrected, if it continues then it is either injury or genetic.

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Jubillee

· #3 · Jan 27, 2022

Can you get a video of him walking?

goatblessings

· #4 · Jan 27, 2022

To me, he looks like his front legs do not come straight from the shoulder, he is too far forward, leading to a pinched and loose shoulder asssembly. He is also narrow throughout and steep in the rump. Selenium deficiency usually leads to weak pasterns . Look at your boy on the move and watch how much he moves in the shoulders,,,,,, is he loose (a lot of movement?). boys can change a lot, and 8 months old bucks can get a very gangly look to them.

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farmerbritt

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jan 27, 2022

That is good feedback... I am hoping it is a feed/mineral issue (bc yes, he is definitely lean, though a nice height). If his shoulders are loose and his legs are not coming straight down, is that something that can be improved with quality nutrition, exercise, and time? Thanks again for the input; in 8 years I've never had a goat with this issue, and knowing I spent money on him after traveling and thinking I gave him a good look over is frustrating 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️
I will try to get a video of him walking tonight.

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goatblessings

· #6 · Jan 27, 2022

No - the leg set under the withers, as well as the structure of the chest is conformation. You can get improvements in body depth but not where his legs are set in the front and the structure of the shoulder.

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farmerbritt

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jan 27, 2022 (Edited)

Ok- here are a few pictures from tonight; I took video but can’t attach it… if I figure that out I’ll share those as well. I moved his shoulder/leg away from his body and tried to compare it to my other goats and it does seem “looser”. He doesn’t show any signs of discomfort and runs around happily; hopefully I’ll figure out how to attach a video. Thanks again for the input 🙃

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happybleats

· #8 · Jan 28, 2022

It maybe his coloring making things look off but his knees seem big? And the back left of too. Again the color of his legs maybe causing the effect?

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Jubillee

· #9 · Jan 28, 2022

I see what Cathy see's too...

His legs are set forward, but I have a few that are set forward to varying degrees and it doesn't cause them to walk in the way you describe. I'm wondering if there is a mineral deficiency that might be causing some pain or he has some swelling in his knees.

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farmerbritt

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jan 28, 2022

He moves very easily and happily, I don’t perceive any pain… I’ve not noticed his knees being larger than normal in person but I’ll definitely pay close attention tomorrow.
I typically use Replamin Gel Plus for minerals; would you recommend something else/better?

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goatblessings

· #11 · Jan 28, 2022

I’m trying to see him closely as well, but he does look over at the knee. I’m trying to see if his hooves are trimmed correctly. Are they nice and flat, or is there maybe too much pad causing him to rock back? Do get some great minerals into him.. it may help.

goatblessings

· #12 · Jan 28, 2022

Replamin is great- I d use the loader dose, and also set out some quality loose minerals.

farmerbritt

Discussion Starter · #13 · Jan 28, 2022

I use the loader dose as well with Replamin and also have loose out since he came 2 weeks ago. I love Replamin 🙂 On his right hoof I can tell she let them over grow but trimmed it back to a decent shape, though his pad is wide on that toe- she acknowledged it his when I looked at his feet but I didn’t notice a strange gate (surely because wee were in a large stall, not the pasture.
I did as much reading as I could find on loose shoulders and read that Alpines deal with this more frequently, causing them to swing their legs when they walk. Unfortunately I couldn’t find a video of this lol. I’m going to give his shoulders a good feel today now that I know what to look for and will also look at the thickness of his soles.

goatblessings

· #14 · Jan 28, 2022

I’m thinking that maybe … she allowed him to overgrow his hooves, which may have affected his gait and put unnecessary strain on the joints and ligaments trying to compensate. I would give those hooves a proper trim with the soles flat on the bottom and not too much toe. With good minerals and proper nutrition, he may pull himself together enough that he’s not so compromised in the front end. Give him some time and good luck. I always have a fondness for roans

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farmerbritt

Discussion Starter · #15 · Jan 28, 2022

goatblessings, I am thinking the same... after feeling his shoulders this morning they do not feel loose (according to the descriptions I've read LOL) and are smoothly formed to his body. His heels are indeed overgrown, so hopefully with consistent trimming and good nutrition he'll improve. He is such a SWEET boy on top of being beautiful- I was surely a bit blinded by excitement to see some of his faults LOL. I anticipate I'll have a better picture of what his needs are in another 6 months. And again, he's only been here less than 2 weeks; I feel less of a sense of dread than I did when I first posted LOL. Thanks to all for your thoughts/feedback

goatblessings

· #16 · Jan 28, 2022

Can’t wait to see him in a few months - best wishes!

Jubillee

· #17 · Jan 28, 2022

Yea you can feel shoulders at the withers, they should come smoothly to a point. I have a girl with slightly loose shoulders and you can feel little gaps between the shoulder and the wither. I definitely think getting his weight up, keeping his hooves trimmed, and getting those minerals in him will do good. After he's been doing good, reassess him.

toth boer goats

· #18 · Jan 28, 2022

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