Artificial Legs Save Valuable Stock

Artificial Legs Save Valuable Stock LIVESTOCK Beef A broken leg or an amputation doesn t need to be the end of a valuable breeding animal An Oklahoma horseman and farrier is regularly fitting all kinds of livestock with artificial limbs to extend useful life of the animals
Bud Beaston has developed hinged prosthetic leg braces for horses cows calves bulls and sheep He first makes a mold of the injured or abnormal leg with plaster of paris then builds a hinged cast that clamps around the leg Pressure points inside the case are padded with foam rubber
It s very important to look at the limb once or twice a week says Beaston It can be cleaned and the foam rubber replaced each time The hinged brace makes it possible to do this in about 5 minutes
For young growing animals Beaston generally makes the artificial limb of stainless steel and plaster of paris so it can be enlarged as the animal grows When the animal is mature a permanent limb can be made from fiberglass
For all injured animals regardless of age it s important that the prosthetic device be made removable so the limb can be kept clean and comfortable Beaston points out He has used the Beaston Method on dozens of different animals including a newborn calf that lost both hind feet from frostbite Several months later the calf weighed 400 lbs and was getting around well on two artificial limbs
Beaston has used his device on brood mares and mature horses a colt born with defective feet and a bull with a turned-in hoof
Beaston says he can build a form-fitted leg brace for about $25 and in a couple hours It works very good now but we are working on improvements and we may have a real breakthrough in artificial limbs later he told FARM SHOW
Beaston with the aid of his veterinarian does a wide array of corrective work on the legs of horses cows and sheep which are born with abnormalities or suffer injury in accidents We work with local veterinarians Or for animals brought here a veterinarian here does whatever surgery or amputating is needed
Beaston s work in saving injured animals with his special hinged leg brace is done in connection with his farrier s school near Tulsa Okl He founded the Oklahoma Farrier s College in 1965 and has been training students from all 50 states and 21
foreign countries in horse shoeing
For more information contact: FARM SHOW Followup Bud Beaston Oklahoma Farrier s College Route 1 Box 88 Sperry Oka 74073 ph 918 288-7221 or toll-free 1-800331-4061

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