Only pull when the cow is straining. If you are pulling and a sudden obstruction occurs, stop and examine the birth canal and calf to find out what is wrong before proceeding.
To avoid lacerations to the soft birth canal, time should be allowed for enlargement of the birth canal as the calf advances. The following figures illustrate presentation of the calf other than anterior or posterior presentations.
If the head cannot be felt, do not assume the calf is coming backward. The two front legs may be presented and the head retained Figure 5. Before pulling on the limbs, distinguish between forelimbs and hindlimbs as described earlier. Where the head is bent back into the right flank of the cow it will be easier to correct if the left hand is used and vice versa. By grasping the muzzle, the ear, or the lower jaw; or by placing the thumb and middle finger in the eye sockets, the head can be raised and directed into the pelvis.
Do not pull hard on the jaw because the jaw can be easily broken. In all these cases, the head can be brought up and straightened more easily if the body of the calf is at the same time pushed farther back in the uterus. This can be done by placing the hand between the front legs and pushing back the chest, the head being pulled at the same time with aid of a chain placed on the lower jaw. Try to carry out all these operations when the cow is not straining vigorously.
Sometimes the head falls well down between the legs Figure 6. Replace one or both limbs into the uterus to raise the head by one of the methods described above. Another method is to turn the cow on her back. The calf may have the head out, but one or both forelegs retained Figure 7. Secure the head by placing a chain or rope behind the poll and through the mouth then lubricate the head and push it back into the uterus. Then search for the limbs one at a time. Each limb should be grasped just above the fetlock and bent at the knee.
Now push the bent knee toward the spinal column and push back so as to bend all the joints of the limb. Meanwhile the hand is gradually moved down the limb toward the fetlock. Now raise the fetlock over the pelvic brim and the leg can move forward. If the hand alone does not work, chain the fetlock. Push the knee at the same time and pull the rope. Cover the hoof to avoid damage. Figure 7. Calf presented with its head in the birth canal but one or both forelegs retained.
Figure 8 shows a breech presentation. The calf has to be repelled well back into the uterus. Then grasp a leg below the stifle and work a hand down to the foot. Place the hoof into the palm of your hand, withdrawing you arm until the foot is drawn over the pelvic brim. This manipulation is made easier by rotating the hock outward as the foot is pulled up and back. If twins enter the vagina one at a time, there is no problem. However, occasionally twins are presented together and block the birth canal.
In most of these cases one comes head first and the other tail first Figure 9. Extract the closest twin. If in doubt, first extract the twin presenting hindlegs after first repelling the other twin far into the uterus.
Before this, make sure both limbs belong to the same calf. To do this, feel along each limb to where it joins the body and feel along the body to the opposite limb. Rope each limb separately and identify the ropes for each twin.
If one or both twins are abnormally presented, correct as in a single birth before attempting delivery. Pulling on a calf should only be done when the presentation and posture of the calf are correct. This applies to both the anterior forward position Figure 1 and the posterior backward position Figure 3. A large calf, with shoulders too wide for the pelvis, is sometimes held up at this stage Figure Figure The shoulders or hips of a large calf may be wider than the horizontal axis of the pelvic opening.
The pelvis has an oval shaped opening with the largest dimension being the vertical axis, and the smaller dimension is the horizontal width. If the shoulders of a large birth weight calf can be made to enter on a slant and can be pulled through in that position, delivery will be made easier.
Apply traction that will allow the calf to be turned about 90 degrees so that the widest part of the shoulders will match the largest dimension of the pelvic opening Figure Rotation of the calf to match the widest dimensions of calf and pelvic opening.
After the shoulders have passed the pelvic opening, the calf can be returned to the normal upright position because the torso is larger in the vertical dimension Figure Rotating the calf back to the upright position to match the depth of the thoracic cavit with the depth of the pelvic opening.
Hiplock is the next likely obstruction that is met when pulling a calf. Prolapses occur occasionally in beef cows. Most prolapses occur very near the time of calving. Two distinct kinds of prolapse exist. Uterine prolapse requires immediate attention and if treated soon, most animals have an uneventful recovery.
If they subsequently rebreed and become pregnant there is no reason to cull animals suffering uterine prolapse after calving. Uterine prolapse is not likely to reoccur. Some may suffer uterine damage or infection that prevents conception and should therefore be culled. If the uterus becomes badly traumatized before treating, the animal dies from shock or hemorrhage.
Vaginal prolapse, however, that which occurs before calving is a heritable trait and is likely to reoccur each year during late pregnancy. Such animals should not be kept in the herd.
The condition will eventually result in the loss of cow, calf, or both plus her female offspring would be predisposed to vaginal prolapse. Research Patterson, et al, from the USDA station at Miles City, Montana, reported that calvings of 13, calvings from a year span were associated with prolapse of the reproductive tract.
Of most importance is to know when to help, when to quit, and when it is time to call the veterinarian. Remember the length of stage 2 of parturition is important to calf survival and if a problem cannot be corrected within 20 to 30 minutes, you should seek assistance. To learn more about how to assist cows or heifers at calving, check out two videotapes available from your local OSU Extension Office. Initially, they are mild and spaced far apart, but become more intense and frequent.
The cow or heifer will get up and down often, and is obviously uncomfortable. This stage should last two to six hours and ends with emergence of fetal membranes or water bag. Stage 2 is the delivery stage. Contractions are very strong, and the cow or heifer is usually lying on her side. The fetal membranes, and then the calf, enter the birth canal. With a normal presentation, both front feet emerge first.
Fig 6: A thick string of mucus is often observed hanging from the vulva. Second stage labour is represented by expulsion of calf calves , and takes from 5 minutes to several hours. There is rupture of allanto-chorion water bag with a sudden rush of fluid. The amniotic sac appears at the vulva and ruptures at this stage.
Powerful reflex and voluntary contractions of abdominal muscle and diaphragm "straining" serve to expel the calf. Occasionally, the amniotic sac may not rupture and results in death of the calf due to asphyxiation.
This scenario is not uncommon in twin births. Fig 7: Rupture of allanto-chorion water bag with a sudden rush of fluid. Fig 9: Amniotic sac ruptures, feet exteriorised and appearance of muzzle at vulva.
Figs 10 above and 11 below Powerful reflex and voluntary contractions of abdominal muscle and diaphragm "straining" serve to expel the calf. Third stage labour is completed by expulsion of foetal membranes afterbirth or cleansing which usually occurs within hours after birth of the calf. The safety of everyone present is very important with excitable and potentially aggressive beef cows, and some heifers. Many farmers routinely calve all cows in cattle stocks which is not ideal for several reasons but may be the best compromise with an aggressive cow and limited staff.
After correction of the calf's malposture and fixing the calving ropes when the cow is secured in the cattle stocks it is preferable, where safe to proceed, to halter the cow and release her into a clean calving pen. The free end of the halter should be tied low down to a substantial post allowing approximately 1. Alternatively, the cow can be restrained behind a gate hinged 75 cm from the corner of the calving pen and the halter applied before progressing. Such a system works best for dairy cattle and quiet beef cows.
Fig The cow can be restrained behind a gate hinged 75 cm from the corner of the calving pen and the halter applied before progressing. Ideally, the calving pen should be cleaned and disinfected between every occupant to prevent disease transmission. The diseases most readily spread from dam to offspring, and subsequent pen occupants are:.
Good hygiene in the calving pen will also reduce navel infections, joint ill and subsequent episodes of calf scour. Mastitis and metritis womb infections in the cow may also be reduced. A compromise is to add large amounts of clean dry straw between cows with the pen mucked out and disinfected after calvings - but note that this regimen is not recommended for herds with Johne's disease paratuberculosis or salmonellosis.
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