How to Grow Hair on a Steer

Providing your steer with shelter during wet weather will avoid rain rot.

Steer, like horses, are prone to different forms of fungus (such as rain rot) that can damage their hair or cause complete hair loss. Bare spots on a steer's coat are not only unsightly, they also cause pain and itching. You can grow hair on a steer by using some common household items, or by purchasing commercially made animal hair growth products.

Things You'll Need

• 1 cup Mouthwash
• 2 cups water
• Spray bottle
• Soft brush
• Rubber gloves
• Shapelys Mane & Tail Groom
• Soft towel

Instructions

Home Remedy

1. Pour 1 cup mouthwash and 2 cups water into a spray bottle and attach the top.

2. Shake the spray bottle thoroughly to mix the mouthwash and water.

3. Spray the mouthwash mixture liberally on all the bald spots or damaged areas on the steer's coat. Spray the dock (top of the steer's tail) to completely saturate it with the mixture.

4. Brush the mixture into the steer's coat using a soft brush.

5. Apply the mouthwash mixture to the steer two times per day until the skin condition is resolved and hair grows.

Using Shapely's Mane & Tail Groom

1. Put on rubber gloves. Shapely's Mane and Tail Groom (M-T-G) has a very strong, unpleasant odor that is hard to remove from your hands.

2. Shake the bottle of M-T-G vigorously for at least three minutes. The white ring on the bottom of the bottle must be dissolved or it will not work effectively.

3. Pour out a medium-sized puddle of M-T-G onto a soft towel. Fold the towel over on itself to absorb the oil.

4. Rub the soaked towel everywhere on the steer where he needs to grow hair. Be sure to completely saturate all bald spots and saturate the dock.

5. Brush the M-T-G oil into the steer's coat using a soft brush.

Tips & Warnings

• Any generic mouthwash will work, as mouthwash has ingredients that fight fungus.

• Adding rice bran or flax seed to your steer's diet will improve the condition of his hair.

• Bare spots on the steer may burn and hurt. Only use soft brushes and a minimal amount of pressure to brush these spots.

• If you are using Shapley's M-T-G, only apply it to the steer in the evening (or keep the steer in a barn) after the sun has begun to set to avoid sunburn.

References

• Cattle Today: Consider Costs When Making Supplement Decisions: Rice Bran
• North Dakota State University: Flaxseed as Feed For Cattle Could Benefit North Dakota Flax Producers
• The Beefsite: Rain Scald (Dermatophilosis)

Resources

• Shapley's: Product List: Original M-T-G
• The Judging Connection: How to Groom and Fit a Show Steer