So, if your gut feeling suggests this is his problem, you'll want to pamper him for a few days to see if he improves. Avoid shooting him full of antibiotics for now, just in case he turns out to be a salvage case you might want to ship. If your corral examination indicates swelling, redness, or oozing around the lower part of the leg, roll up the sleeves and put that guy in the chute. Now's the time to raise that hoof for inspection, if the patient is co-operative. If he isn't, it may be necessary to cast him with ropes.
Lameness often makes one think of foot rot, a common problem in cattle on pasture.
The foot affected will be swollen between the claws and up to the dew claws, and extremely painful. If this is your working diagnosis, antibiotics should bring considerable improvement within a few days. A call to your local vet can help you use the best drugs and doses. Early stages of foot rot respond nicely to proper treatment. More severe cases may need to be cleaned up and even bandaged.