CAROLINE, Alta. – Calving is usually a trouble-free event but sometimes things go wrong with an incorrect presentation or big calf blocking its entry to the world.
Being able to recognize trouble and knowing when to get help is crucial to delivering a live, healthy baby, said veterinarian Kristine McLean at the annual Cows and Fish Day held by the Clearwater County agriculture services board, Grey Wooded Forage Association and Rocky Riparian Group.
Stages of labour include dilation of the cervix, birth and delivery of the placenta.
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During the first stage of labour the cow may move away from the rest of the herd, show some nervousness, kick at its side, lie down or show some slight straining.
Heifers may take twice as long as cows with their labour, lasting up to six hours compared to a cow that can deliver in less than four hours.
“I always like to see progress every 30 minutes,” said McLean.
The second stage starts when the calf is in the birth canal. A normal presentation is one where the head is tucked between the front legs with the nose a few inches from the tips of the toes.
In the third stage the placenta is released.
“If you had to help her out, check for tears inside or look for another calf,” she said.
Abnormal deliveries do not happen often and problems may be difficult to recognize at first, so an internal examination may be needed.
To do this, try to get the cow into a safe place. Cows will kick backward and to the side.
Use soap and clean water to wash the external area. It is a good idea to have obstetrical sleeves and chains, lubricant, soap and disinfectant.
“You won’t do a lot of harm with an internal exam,” she said, but keep the area clean and be gentle.
Use lubrication and put on a glove. A well lubricated hand used in a shoehorn fashion can help delivery of the calf’s head.
First, try to determine if the cervix, a tight band between the uterus and vagina, has dilated.
“If you can’t get through, it is not dilated,” she said.
If the situation is normal, two feet and a nose should be felt.
“If you can extend the legs, the head will follow.”
If there is a bad odour, the calf could be dead because it was too big or there was a malpresentation.
If the calf needs to be pulled, put the chain on one fetlock and remember to apply force in a natural arc without excessive force. Use mechanical pullers carefully and do not bend or bow the pullers.
Pull in a horizontal or slightly upward direction until the head and chest are delivered. After the head is delivered, rotate the calf 90 to 180 degrees to prevent hip lock. The cow’s pelvis is an oval shape so the calf needs to rotate. Next, pull in a downward direction toward the cow’s hocks until delivery is complete.
Go slow and work with the cow’s straining and contractions.
If the calf is backward, intervention is needed sooner.
A hoof could puncture the uterus or the calf could die.
“I wouldn’t recommend many people trying this on their own. You can tear the uterus pretty easily,” McLean said.
If one or both front legs are back, push the head back in and pull one leg forward. One leg back hurts the cow.
If the head is turned back or sideways there is not enough room for it to come out. A vet may use a head snare but sometimes these calves are dead. Never apply a rope or chain around the calf’s jaw but rather through the mouth and around the back of the head behind the ears. This prevents a broken jaw.
Twinning is not uncommon. Often one calf is forward and the other is breech. If an exam reveals four feet, recognize your limitations and call the vet.
Other problems include calving paralysis and retained placentas.
There are two large nerves on the cow’s pelvis and too much pressure during calving could cause temporary paralysis.
A retained placenta should come out in 72 hours, but damage can be done when attempting to clean out the cow. The cow may appear off its feed if an infection occurs and rebreeding may be slow.
“You are best off to leave her alone.”
If there is a uterine prolapse, call the vet right away. There are two uterine arteries that could be ruptured and the cow could bleed to death. The more the cow walks, the greater the chance of bleeding.
“Keep the cow still and don’t mess with her too much.”
The vet can put the uterus back and put in a special stitch to hold it in place. Do not turn the cow out with the bull too soon.
Vaginal prolapse can be fixed with a suture but this cow will likely end up culled because it could happen again.
After delivery, make sure the calf gets adequate colostrum of about two litres from the mother because this provides protection from the germs on the farm.
The best absorption rate is up to four hours after birth. The cow may have to be milked. Tube the calf carefully to make sure the colostrum gets into the correct stomach.
