What Time of Year Are Beef Calves Born

Calving Time Management for Beef Cows and Heifers

Past Glenn Selk

Bound To:
• Recognize Normal Calving
• The Iii Stages of Parturition
• Dystocia
• Prepare Before Helping
• Signs of Impending Calving in Cows or Heifers
• When and How to Examine the Cow
• Proper Placement of Obstetrical Chains
• Forced Extraction of the Dogie
• Anterior Presentation
• Posterior Presentation
• Other Ideas on Pulling Calves
• Aberrant Presentations
• Rotating the Dogie at Parturition to Aid in Delivery
• Prolapses
• Summary
• References

Calf losses at calving time are often a event of dystocia (difficult calving) problems. Many of these losses occur to calves born to first calf heifers and tin be prevented if the heifers and cows are watched closely and the dystocia problems detected and corrected early. A veterinarian should handle serious and complicated calving issues. Ranchers must employ practiced judgment in their decisions equally to which problems will crave professional help, and the earlier assistance is sought the greater the survival rate of both cow and dogie.

Recognize Normal Calving

If the calf is normally presented (Figure 1) and the pelvic surface area is large enough, the vast bulk of animals volition requite nascence without assistance. Recognizing a normal calving is just as important as knowing when a calving is aberrant. This fashion y'all will non give assist when it is non needed.

Figure 1. An anterior presentation

The Three Stages of Parturition

Phase 1

The outset stage of parturition is dilation of the cervix. The normal neck is tightly closed right up until the cervical plug is completely dissolved. In stage one, cervical dilation begins some four to 24 hours before the bodily birth. During this time the progesterone cake is no longer present and the uterine muscles are condign more sensitive to all factors that increase the rate and strength of contractions. At the outset, the contractile forces primarily influence the relaxation of the cervix only uterine muscular activity is still rather quiet. Stage 1 is likely to go completely unnoticed, but there may be some behavioral differences such as isolation or discomfort. Most the end of stage 1 ranchers may notice elevation of the tail, switching of the tail, and increased mucous belch.

Stage 2

The 2d stage of parturition is defined equally the delivery of the newborn. It begins with the archway of the membranes and fetus into the pelvic canal and ends with the completed birth of the calf. The second phase is the 1 producers are really interested in because this is where all the activity is. Clinically the onset of stage 2 is marked by the appearance of membranes or water bag at the vulva. The traditional texts, fact sheets, magazines, and other publications land that stage 2 in cattle lasts from two to four hours. Information from Oklahoma State University and the USDA experiment station at Miles City, Montana, would indicate that stage 2 is much shorter being approximately one hour for heifers and half hour for developed cows. Encounter When and How to Examine a Cow on page 3. In heifers, not only is the pelvic opening smaller, but also the soft tissue has never been expanded. Older cows accept had deliveries earlier and birth should go quite rapidly unless at that place is some aberration such as a very large calf, backwards calf, leg back, or twins.

Phase 3

The tertiary stage of parturition is the shedding of the placenta or fetal membranes. In cattle this normally occurs in less than eight to 12 hours. The membranes are considered retained if after 12 hours they have not been shed. Years ago it was considered necessary to remove the membranes by manually unbuttoning the attachments. Research has shown that manual removal is detrimental to uterine health and futurity conception rates. Administration of antibiotics ordinarily will guard against infection and the placenta will slough in iv to seven days. Contact your veterinarian for the proper direction of retained placenta.

Dystocia

What is dystocia or a hard nascence? Traditionally, it is any birth that has needed assistance. Co-ordinate to that definition, whatsoever unassisted birth was a normal birth, but by the definition an unassisted nascency could still result in weak or dead calf at birth. A more modern definition of dystocia would exist a birth that needs help or results in a weakened or dead dogie or injury to the dam.

Causes of Dystocia

What are the causes of dystocia? Most common is relative fetal oversize, which could exist defined as a calf too big, pelvis as well small, or both. As for calving difficulty, prevention is worth a pound of cure. Proper sire selection is a key to preventing calving difficulty. Underdeveloped heifers and heifers bred to bulls with large birth weights are both factors that cause increased incidence of difficult births. The second most prevalent cause is abnormal presentation or position. The normal presentation in cattle is anterior presentation or head get-go and the normal position would be correct side up with head and fore limbs extended into the pelvic culvert. Whatever position that involves the calf's head turned back or one of the legs turned back is abnormal. Remember a normal delivery cannot exist accomplished unless the head and both front end limbs are presented into the pelvic canal and on through the vulva. A third cause of dystocia would be lack of uterine contractions or uterine fatigue. The causes of this are circuitous and non completely understood. Sometimes hormonal imbalances may effect in the neck not being completely dilated or uterine contractions not occurring oft or strongly enough. Low calcium levels such as seen with milk fever or grass tetany may be responsible. In any case those problems commonly require the assistance of a veterinarian to correct. Other causes of dystocia are twins or genetic mistakes (fetal monsters).

Effects of Dystocia on the Calf

What are the furnishings of dystocia or difficult nativity on the calf? Obvious to anybody is a expressionless calf at nascence or one killed during the assistance procedure. Additional furnishings include trauma such as leg fractures, ruptured diaphragm, and nerve damage due to excessive pulling, improper placement of bondage, or the development of a hiplock. A third and greatly overlooked event is a weak calf, sometimes chosen weak calf syndrome, which may exist brought on by a prolonged stage 2. This is due to increased time exposed to increased pressure associated with increased uterine contractions and straining of the dam.

A prolonged stage 2 with no progress in delivery of the calf is going to effect in decreased oxygen and increased carbon dioxide to the fetus. Such calves do not accept normal respiratory efforts. They do not have strong gasping and panting efforts. They do not have rapid respiration or middle rates necessary to distribute oxygen to the tissues and carbon dioxide back to the lungs. Lactic acid and carbon dioxide levels remain quite high. These calves are depressed, they do not sit upward well, they do not milk shake their heads and ears, and if weather is cold they do non shiver to warm themselves. Shivering increases metabolism, which increases heat. These calves have poor metabolism to begin with and their body temperature consequently drops. Even those that first appeared to breath and sit up usually soon become depressed, are slow to rise, and are slow to nurse. Many do not nurse without help and die within 12 to 24 hours. Even those that exercise nurse, may nurse as well late for good antibody absorption. In summary, the outcome of dystocia is non merely dead calves and injured heifers, but likewise weak and sick calves.

Effects of Dystocia on Post-calving Fertility

In addition to beingness the greatest cause of baby dogie mortality, calving difficulty markedly reduces reproductive performance during the next breeding season.

Results from a Montana written report (Doornbos, et al., 1984) showed that heifers receiving help in early phase 2 of parturition returned to heat earlier in the post-calving menses and had higher pregnancy rates than heifers receiving traditionally accepted obstetric assistance (Figure 2). In this study heifers were either assisted when the fetal membranes (h2o bag) appeared (Early) or were allowed to progress unremarkably and assisted only if calving was not completed within 2 hours of the appearance of the water bag (Late).

Heifers that were allowed to endure a prolonged labor had a 17% lower rate of cycling at the start of the side by side convenance season. In addition, the rebreeding percentage was twenty% lower than the counterparts that were given assist in the first hr of labor.

Prolonged deliveries of baby calves (in excess of one to one and a half hours) often consequence in weakened calves and reduced rebreeding performance in young cows.

Figure two. Touch of early or late assistance in subsequent rebreeding performance of starting time dogie heifers. Doornbos, et al. 1984.

Prepare Before Helping

• Equipment: Before calving season starts practise a walk through of pens, chutes, and calving stalls. Brand certain that all are clean, dry, strong, safe, and performance correctly. This is a lot easier to do on a sunny afternoon than on a cold dark night when you lot need them.

• Protocol: Earlier calving flavor starts develop a plan of what to practice, when to do it, who to call for aid (along with phone numbers), and how to know when you need help. Make sure all family unit members or helpers are familiar with the programme. It may help to write it out and postal service copies in convenient places. Talk to the local veterinarian about the protocol and comprise his/her suggestions. Your veterinarian will be a lot more helpful when you have an emergency during the kids' school programme if you have talked a few times during regular hours.

• Lubrication: Many lubricants have been used and 1 of the best lubricants is probably the simplest – non-detergent lather and warm water.

• Supplies: The stockman should ever have in his medicine chest the following: disposable obstetrical sleeves, non-irritant antiseptic, lubricant, obstetrical bondage (60 inch and/or two 30 inch chains), ii obstetrical handles, mechanical calf pullers, and injectable antibiotics. Do non forget the uncomplicated things similar a skilful flashlight with extra batteries and some former towels or a scroll of paper towels. It may be helpful for you to take all these things and other items y'all may want to include packed into a v gallon bucket to make upward an obstetrical kit so you can grab everything at one time.

Signs of Impending Calving in Cows or Heifers

As the calving season approaches, the cows will show typical signs that volition signal parturition is imminent. Changes that are gradually seen are udder development or making bag and the relaxation and swelling of the vulva or springing. These indicate the cow is due to calve in the about hereafter. At that place is much departure betwixt individuals in the development of these signs and certainly age is a factor. The showtime dogie heifer, particularly in the milking breeds, develops udder for a very long time, sometimes for 2 or three months before parturition. The springing can exist highly variable besides. Virtually people notice that Brahman influence cattle seem to spring much more than does a Holstein.

Typically, in the immediate two weeks preceding calving, springing becomes more axiomatic, the udder is filling, and one of the things that might be seen is the loss of the cervical plug. This is a very thick tenacious, mucous material hanging from the vulva. It may be seen pooling behind the cow when she is lying down. Some people mistakenly think this happens immediately before calving, only in fact this tin can be seen weeks before parturition and therefore is only another sign that the calving flavor is hither.

The firsthand signs that usually occur within 24 hours of calving would be relaxation of the pelvic ligaments and strutting of the teats. These tin can be fairly undecayed for the possessor that watches his cows several times a mean solar day during the calving season. The coincidental observer or even the veterinarian who is knowledgeable of the signs but sees the herd infrequently cannot accurately predict calving time from these signs. The relaxation of the pelvic ligaments really cannot be observed in fatty cows (body status score 7 or greater). However, relaxations of the ligaments tin can exist seen very clearly in sparse or moderate body condition cows and can be a sign of impending parturition within the side by side 12 to 24 hours. These changes are signs the producer or herdsman tin can employ to more closely pinpoint calving fourth dimension. Strutting of the teats is non really very undecayed. Some heavy milking cows will take strutting of the teats every bit much equally two or three days before calving and on the other hand, a sparse poor milking cow may calve without strutting of the teats.

Some other matter that might be seen in the immediate 12 hours before calving would be variable behavior such as a cow that does not come to consume or a cow that isolates herself into a particular corner of the pasture. Nevertheless, nigh of them have few behavioral changes until the parturition process starts.

When and How to Examine the Moo-cow

It is of import to know with complete confidence exactly when and how long to leave the moo-cow and when to seek assist. An issue facing the rancher at calving time is the amount of time heifers or cows are immune to be in labor before assist is given. Traditional textbooks, fact sheets, and magazine articles state that stage 2 of labor lasted from two to four hours. Stage 2 is divers every bit that portion of the birthing procedure from the commencement appearance of the water purse until the infant dogie is delivered. Data from Oklahoma State University and the USDA experiment station at Miles Urban center, Montana, clearly bear witness that stage 2 is much shorter, lasting approximately threescore minutes in first calf heifers and 30 minutes in mature cows (Tabular array i).

In these studies, heifers that were in stage 2 labor much more than than 1 hr or cows that were in phase 2 much more than 30 minutes definitely needed assistance. Inquiry data also shows that calves from prolonged deliveries are weaker and more affliction prone, even if born live. In addition, cows or heifers with prolonged deliveries return to heat later and are less probable to exist bred for the next calf crop. Consequently a proficient rule of pollex: If the heifer is not making significant progress one hr after the h2o bag or feet announced, examine the heifer to see if you can provide assistance. Mature cows should exist watched for only xxx minutes before a vaginal examine is conducted. If y'all cannot safely deliver the calf yourself at this time, call your local veterinarian immediately.

Most ranches develop heifers fully and use calving ease bulls to prevent calving difficulties. However, a few hard births are going to occur each calving flavour. Using the concept of evening feeding to become more heifers calving in daylight and giving assistance early will save a few more than calves. This results in healthier more productive two-year cows to rebreed next year.

If goose egg is showing after a menses of intensive straining of second-stage labor – a period of approximately 30 minutes in a cow and sixty minutes in a heifer – and so examine her to make up one's mind if presentation is normal. Wash the vulva, anus, and the area in between using soap and warm h2o. Using a disposable sleeve (shoulder length) and a good lubricant (usually bachelor from your veterinarian), insert your hand slowly and do not rupture the waterbag. If the dogie's presentation is not an inductive (Figure ane) or posterior position (Effigy 3) or if the calf is very large or the heifer small, you may desire to seek professional help.

Table 1. – Research results for length of phase 2 parturition.

Study	No. of animals	Length of stage 2
USDA (Montana)*	31 mature cows	22.5 minutes
USDA (Montana)*	29 first calf heifers	54.1 minutes
Oklahoma Country Academy**	35 first calf heifers	55.0 minutes

*Doornbos, et al. 1984. JAS: 59:1

**Putnam, et al. 1985. Therio: 24:385

Proper Placement of Obstetrical Chains

To properly use obstetrical chains when profitable with a difficult birth, follow the example in Figure 4. To adhere the concatenation, loop it around the thin office of the leg above the fetlock. Then, make a half hitch and tighten it beneath the joint and in a higher place the foot. Make sure that the chain is positioned in such a way that it goes over the height of the toes. In this fashion the pressure is practical so equally to pull the precipitous points of the calf's hooves away from the soft tissue of the vaginal wall.

Forced Extraction of the Calf

It is very of import at all times to exert force per unit area only when the fauna strains and to relax completely when the patient relaxes. The quondam idea of maintaining a steady pressure during assistance is wrong, unless the cow has already given upwardly and no assist is coming from her.

Excessive or improper force per unit area oft causes injuries to the dam such as vaginal tears, uterine rupture, paralysis, or uterine prolapse. All can commonly be prevented but when they occur they need the immediate attention of your veterinarian.

Vaginal tears mostly heal with proper antibody therapy. Uterine rupture usually results in death. Some animals will recover from calving paralysis but may require prolonged care and may not breed again.

Pulling on a calf should simply be done when the presentation and posture of the dogie are normal. This applies both to an anterior position (Figure 1) and a posterior position (Effigy 3). Excess force should never be used in pulling a calf. In most cases, no more than two men should be allowed to pull and and so but when the cow strains. Lubricant and patience volition often solve the tightest instance. Use farthermost caution if a mechanical puller is existence used.

Figure 3. A posterior presentation

Figure 4. Place loop above and halfhitch beneath fetlock joint. Connecting chain should be on the top of the leg.

The showtime stride is to examine the cow to check calf position and determine if assistance is necessary. It is generally easier to correct any abnormal presentation if the cow is standing. If a moo-cow or heifer volition non go upwards, she should be so placed that she is not lying directly on the part of the calf which has to exist adjusted. Thus, if the calf's head is turned back toward the cow's correct flank, the moo-cow should be fabricated to lie on her left flank and then that the calf's head is uppermost. This provides more than room in the uterus for manipulation.

Once the calf is in a correct inductive or posterior position, delivery will be easier if the moo-cow is lying down. When the dogie'south limbs are located, detect out whether they are forelimbs or hindlimbs. To practise this outset by feeling the fetlock and moving the paw up the limb. In the hindlimb the next joint is the hock with the prominent point. In the forelimb there is too a prominent point, the point of the elbow, but before this is reached one tin feel the knee joint joint, which is apartment and has no prominences.

The calf may be alive or dead. Sometimes movements tin can exist detected in a live calf by placing the fingers in the mouth, seizing the natural language, or touching the eyelids.

If the genital passage of the cow is dry or if the calf itself is dry, enough of lubricant should be used. Attempts to repel (push button back) the calf should be fabricated betwixt labor pains. Similarly, attempts to deliver the calf by traction will be a lot easier if they are made to coincide with the contractions of the moo-cow.

Inductive Presentation

An anterior presentation is forefeet offset, head resting on the limbs, and the optics level with the knees (Figure 1). As stated higher up, in this presentation the cow does not usually require assistance, unless information technology is a heifer at start calving, the calf is expressionless, or the calf is too large for the moo-cow.

If the calf is dead, tie a chain effectually the head behind the ears and laissez passer information technology through the oral cavity. This volition prevent the head from twisting when the limbs are beingness pulled. With a live dogie y'all can do this by placing a paw on the head and ensuring that the head is kept straight. Traction should not be exerted simultaneously on the head and limbs until the head enters the pelvis. A large calf, with shoulders besides wide for the pelvis, is sometimes held up at this stage. If then, pull i limb just and then that the elbow and shoulder of one limb only enter the pelvis. And then, while the pull on the limb is continued, the other limb is treated in the aforementioned way until both feet project equally from the genital passage. Now apply traction on both limbs and on the caput until the head protrudes from the vulva, and from this stage the principle traction is exerted on the limbs once again.

It can exist seen that traction on both limbs at the same fourth dimension will result in both shoulders inbound the pelvis at once. If the shoulders of a wide-chested dogie can be made to enter on a slant and can be pulled through in that position, delivery volition be made easier.

Important: Traction on the calf in the early stages should be exerted upward (in the direction of the tailhead) and not downwardly. Once the calf is in the pelvic crenel, traction should exist straight backward and then downwards. The calf thus passes through the nascency canal in the form of an arc.

If the passage of the hind end of the calf presents any difficulty, the body of the calf should exist grasped and twisted to an bending of virtually 45 degrees. Delivery is so made with the calf one-half-turned on its side. This allows for easier passage of a calf with well-developed stifle joints.

Sometimes a calf gets stuck at the hips (hiplock). Practise not just pull, rotate the calf equally described in a higher place or effort turning the moo-cow onto her dorsum, and so over onto the side contrary to the one you establish her on and try some gentle assist.

Posterior Presentation

In a posterior presentation, both the hindfeet are presented with the calf's spine upwards toward the cow's spine (Figure three), and the sole or bottom of the hooves will face up upward. In a normal anterior presentation (head and forelimbs offset) the hooves are downward. If the dogie is on its dorsum, however, the position of the hooves is reversed in each of these presentations.

In the posterior presentation, the head is the last part to be expelled, and there is a risk of suffocation or encephalon impairment due to lack of oxygen. Commitment should be equally quickly every bit possible by traction on the hind legs. Traction should be exerted on i limb until the respective stifle joint has been drawn over the pelvic brim. Information technology may be necessary to push button the other limb partly back into the uterus at the same time. In this way the ii stifle joints will enter separately into the pelvis and aid easier delivery.

After the first limb has been drawn back sufficiently, traction should exist applied to both limbs simultaneously. If this does non succeed, cantankerous one limb over the other and pull on the lower limb. This will make the dogie rotate slightly to i side and commitment volition proceed more than smoothly.

The calf's tail may have a tendency to protrude upward and damage the top of the vagina. Be sure the tail is downward between the legs by placing your paw on the tailhead while the calf is inbound the pelvic cavity.

After delivery of posterior presentation, more careful attending should exist given to removal of mucus from the rima oris and nose because of a greater danger of suffocation than in an anterior presentation. A stiff straw should exist used to briskly tickle the nostril of the newborn. This volition stimulate the calf to snort, sneeze or cough and inhale air into the lungs to begin breathing as shortly as possible.

Other Ideas on Pulling Calves

The chain should be tightly fastened above the fetlocks with a half-hitch below the fetlock before applying traction in inductive or posterior presentations. If it becomes necessary to pull on the jaw or head, endeavor to practise it by manus or utilize a soft cotton or nylon rope existence careful not to utilize excessive pull and so equally non to fracture the jaw or damage the spinal string. If a rope is used apply the rope backside the poll and through the mouth. Protect the birth canal from laceration past the abrupt teeth by guiding the head with your manus. After the head and neck accept passed through the neck, traction should exist practical to the legs just.

Traction should exist applied in a steady, even mode. Jerky, irregular pulls are painful and unsafe. But 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 earlier proceeding. To avoid lacerations to the soft birth canal, time should be allowed for enlargement of the birth canal equally the calf advances.

Abnormal Presentations

The post-obit figures illustrate presentation of the calf other than inductive or posterior presentations.

Two Front Legs Presented: Head Retained

If the head cannot be felt, exercise not assume the calf is coming backward. The two front legs may be presented and the head retained (Figure five). Before pulling on the limbs, distinguish between forelimbs and hindlimbs as described earlier. Where the head is aptitude back into the right flank of the cow it volition be easier to right if the left hand is used and vice versa. By grasping the muzzle, the ear, or the lower jaw; or past placing the thumb and middle finger in the eye sockets, the head tin can be raised and directed into the pelvis. Do non pull hard on the jaw because the jaw can be easily broken.

Figure 5. Two front end legs presented with head back

In all these cases, the caput tin be brought upwards and straightened more than hands if the body of the calf is at the same time pushed further back in the uterus. This can be done by placing the hand between the front legs and pushing back the chest, the head existence pulled at the aforementioned fourth dimension with assist of a chain placed on the lower jaw. Endeavour to carry out all these operations when the moo-cow is not straining vigorously.

Head Betwixt Forelegs

Sometimes the head falls well downwardly betwixt the legs (Figure half-dozen). Replace one or both limbs into the uterus to heighten the head by 1 of the methods described above.

Another method is to plough the cow on her dorsum. The head of the calf will fall toward the moo-cow's spine and so can be more easily guided into the pelvis past a hand alone or else by a loop around the lower jaw.

Figure 6. Two front legs presented with caput dorsum between legs

Head Out: One or Both Forelegs Retained

The calf may accept the caput out, just one or both forelegs retained (Effigy 7). Secure the head past placing a concatenation or rope behind the poll and through the oral cavity 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 merely above the fetlock and bent at the knee. Now push the bent genu toward the spinal column and push back so equally to curve all the joints of the limb. Meanwhile the hand is gradually moved downward the limb toward the fetlock. Now raise the fetlock over the pelvic brim and the leg tin move forwards.

If the hand alone does not piece of work, chain the fetlock. Push the knee at the same fourth dimension and pull the rope. Cover the hoof to avert impairment.

Effigy seven. Calf presented with its head in the birth culvert but one or both forelegs retained.

Breech Presentation

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 paw downward to the foot. Place the hoof into the palm of your hand, withdrawing yous arm until the foot is drawn over the pelvic brim. This manipulation is fabricated easier by rotating the hock outward as the foot is pulled up and back.

Effigy 8. Calf presented in breech position.

Twins

If twins enter the vagina ane at a time, in that location is no problem. All the same, occasionally twins are presented together and block the birth canal. In most of these cases ane comes head first and the other tail first (Effigy ix). Extract the closest twin. If in doubt, first extract the twin presenting hindlegs subsequently beginning repelling the other twin far into the uterus.

Before this, make sure both limbs vest 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 every bit in a single birth earlier attempting delivery.

Figure 9. Twin calves entering the birth canal.

Rotating the Calf at Parturition to Aid in Delivery

Pulling on a calf should only be done when the presentation and posture of the dogie are right. This applies to both the anterior (forward) position (Figure ane) and the posterior (backward) position (Figure iii). A large calf, with shoulders besides wide for the pelvis, is sometimes held upwards at this stage (Effigy ten). If so, pull one limb only so that the elbow and shoulder of one limb only enter the pelvis. So, while the pull on the limb is continued, the other limb is treated in the same manner until both anxiety project every bit from the genital passage. Now apply traction on both limbs and on the head until the caput protrudes from the vulva, and from this phase the principle traction is exerted on the limbs once again. It tin can be seen that traction on both limbs at the same time volition result in both shoulders entering the pelvis at one time.

Figure 10. 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 fabricated to enter on a camber and can be pulled through in that position, delivery volition be made easier. Apply traction that volition allow the dogie to be turned near 90 degrees then that the widest part of the shoulders will match the largest dimension of the pelvic opening (Figure eleven).

Figure eleven. Rotation of the calf to match the widest dimensions of calf and pelvic opening.

Later the shoulders take passed the pelvic opening, the calf can exist returned to the normal upright position considering the torso is larger in the vertical dimension (Effigy 12).;

Effigy 12. Rotating the calf back to the upright position to lucifer 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. If the passage of the hind end of the calf presents any difficulty, the torso of the calf should be grasped and twisted to an angle of about 45 degrees. Commitment is then made with the calf half-turned on its side. This allows for easier passage of a dogie with well-developed stifle joints.

Prolapses

Prolapses occur occasionally in beef cows. Most prolapses occur very near the time of calving. 2 distinct kinds of prolapse exist.

Uterine prolapse requires firsthand attention and if treated presently, about animals accept an uneventful recovery. If they subsequently rebreed and become significant there is no reason to choose 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 beast dies from shock or hemorrhage.

Vaginal prolapse, nonetheless, that which occurs earlier calving is a heritable trait and is likely to reoccur each year during late pregnancy. Such animals should non exist kept in the herd. The condition volition somewhen result in the loss of cow, calf, or both plus her female offspring would be predisposed to vaginal prolapse.

Enquiry (Patterson, et al, 1981) from the USDA station at Miles Urban center, Montana, reported that 153 calvings of 13,296 calvings from a 14-year span were associated with prolapse of the reproductive tract. Of those 153 prolapses, 124 (81%) were vaginal prolapses and 29 (19%) were uterine prolapses. The subsequent pregnancy charge per unit post-obit prolapse among beginning calf heifers was 28% and the pregnancy rate among adult cows following a prolapse was only 57.9%.

Tabular array 2. Gestation table (based on 283 days)

Convenance Engagement	Due Engagement	Breeding Engagement	Due Engagement	Convenance Date	Due Date	Breeding Engagement	Due Date	Convenance Appointment	Due Date	Breeding Date	Due Engagement
Jan i	Oct x	March iii	December 10	May 3	February 9	July iii	April xi	Sept 2	June eleven	Nov 2	Aug eleven
Jan ii	October 11	March 4	Dec eleven	May 4	February 10	July four	Apr 12	Sept 3	June 12	November three	Aug 12
Jan iii	Oct 12	March 5	Dec 12	May five	Feb 11	July 5	April thirteen	Sept 4	June 13	November four	Aug xiii
January 4	Oct thirteen	March vi	Dec 13	May 6	February 12	July 6	April 14	Sept 5	June 14	Nov v	Aug xiv
Jan 5	Oct 14	March vii	Dec xiv	May 7	Feb 13	July 7	Apr 15	Sept six	June 15	Nov six	Aug 15
Jan half dozen	Oct xv	March 8	Dec 15	May 8	Feb 14	July 8	April 16	Sept 7	June sixteen	November seven	Aug 16
Jan 7	Oct 16	March 9	Dec 16	May 9	Feb 15	July 9	April 17	Sept 8	June 17	Nov viii	Aug 17
January eight	October 17	March 10	Dec 17	May 10	Feb xvi	July x	Apr 18	Sept 9	June 18	Nov 9	Aug 18
Jan 9	Oct 18	March eleven	Dec 18	May 11	Feb 17	July 11	Apr 19	Sept x	June 19	November ten	Aug 19
Jan 10	Oct 19	March 12	Dec 19	May 12	Feb 18	July 12	April 20	Sept 11	June 20	Nov 11	Aug twenty
Jan 11	Oct twenty	March thirteen	Dec 20	May xiii	Feb 19	July xiii	Apr 21	Sept 12	June 21	Nov 12	Aug 21
Jan 12	October 21	March xiv	December 21	May 14	February twenty	July 14	April 22	Sept 13	June 22	Nov thirteen	Aug 22
January 13	October 22	March 15	Dec 22	May 15	Feb 21	July xv	April 23	Sept 14	June 23	Nov 14	Aug 23
Jan 14	Oct 23	March 16	Dec 23	May 16	February 22	July 16	Apr 24	Sept 15	June 24	Nov xv	Aug 24
January fifteen	October 24	March 17	Dec 24	May 17	February 23	July 17	April 25	Sept 16	June 25	Nov 16	Aug 25
Jan 16 D	Oct 25	March 18	Dec 25	May 18	Feb 24	July 18	April 26	Sept 17	June 26	Nov 17	Aug 26
Jan 17	Oct 26	March 19	Dec 26	May 19	Feb 25	July 19	April 27	Sept 18	June 27	Nov 18	Aug 27
Jan 18	Oct 27	March 20	Dec 27	May xx	Feb 26	July 20	April 28	Sept xix	June 28	Nov nineteen	Aug 28
Jan 19	Oct 28	March 21	Dec 28	May 21	Feb 27	July 21	April 29	Sept 20	June 29	Nov xx	Aug 29
January 20	October 29	March 22	Dec 29	May 22	Feb 28	July 22	Apr 30	Sept 21	June xxx	Nov 21	Aug 30
Jan 21	October thirty	March 23	December thirty	May 23	March i	July 23	May 1	Sept 22	July one	Nov 22	Aug 31
Jan 22	Oct 31	March 24	Dec 31	May 24	March 2	July 24	May 2	Sept 23	July 2	November 23	Sept 1
January 23	Nov ane	March 25	Jan one	May 25	March three	July 25	May three	Sept 24	July three	Nov 24	Sept 2
January 24	November 2	March 26	Jan 2	May 26	March 4	July 26	May 4	Sept 25	July four	Nov 25	Sept three
January 25	Nov 3	March 27	Jan 3	May 27	March 5	July 27	May 5	Sept 26	July 5	Nov 26	Sept iv
Jan 26	Nov 4	March 28	Jan 4	May 28	March 6	July 28	May six	Sept 27	July half dozen	November 27	Sept five
Jan 27	Nov v	March 29	January 5	May 29	March 7	July 29	May 7	Sept 28	July 7	Nov 28	Sept 6
Jan 28	Nov 6	March 30	Jan 6	May 30	March viii	July 30	May 8	Sept 29	July viii	November 29	Sept 7
Jan 29	Nov seven	March 31	Jan 7	May 31	March ix	July 31	May 9	Sept 30	July 9	Nov thirty	Sept 8
Jan 30	November 8	April one	Jan viii	June one	March 10	Aug 1	May 10	Oct 1	July 10	Dec 1	Sept 9
Jan 31	Nov nine	April 2	Jan nine	June 2	March eleven	Aug 2	May 11	Oct 2	July eleven	Dec 2	Sept 10
Feb 1	Nov x	April iii	Jan 10	June 3	March 12	Aug 3	May 12	Oct 3	July 12	December three	Sept 11
Feb 2	Nov 11	April four	Jan 11	June iv	March xiii	Aug  4	May 13	Oct iv	July 13	Dec 4	Sept 12
Feb 3	November 12	April v	Jan 12	June v	March xiv	Aug five	May fourteen	October 5	July fourteen	Dec 5	Sept xiii
Feb iv	Nov 13	Apr half-dozen	Jan thirteen	June 6	March fifteen	Aug half-dozen	May 15	Oct 6	July fifteen	Dec 6	Sept xiv
Feb 5	November 14	April 7	Jan 14	June 7	March 16	Aug 7	May 16	Oct vii	July 16	Dec 7	Sept 15
Feb 6	Nov 15	April 8	Jan 15	June eight	March 17	Aug 8	May 17	Oct viii	July 17	Dec 8	Sept 16
Feb 7	Nov 16	April ix	Jan 16	June 9	March xviii	Aug ix	May 18	Oct 9	July 18	Dec ix	Sept 17
Feb 8	Nov 17	April 10	Jan 17	June 10	March 19	Aug 10	May 19	October 10	July nineteen	Dec x	Sept 18
Feb 9	Nov eighteen	April 11	Jan 18	June 11	March 20	Aug 11	May twenty	Oct xi	July 20	December 11	Sept nineteen
Feb 10	Nov xix	April 12	Jan nineteen	June 12	March 21	Aug 12	May 21	October 12	July 21	Dec 12	Sept xx
Feb 11	Nov 20	April 13	Jan xx	June xiii	March 22	Aug thirteen	May 22	October 13	July 22	Dec 13	Sept 21
Feb 12	Nov 21	April 14	Jan 21	June xiv	March 23	Aug 14	May 23	October fourteen	July 23	December 14	Sept 22
February xiii	Nov 22	April xv	Jan 22	June 15	March 24	Aug 15	May 24	Oct 15	July 24	Dec fifteen	Sept 23
Feb 14	Nov 23	April 16	Jan 23	June 16	March 25	Aug 16	May 25	Oct sixteen	July 25	Dec sixteen	Sept 24
February xv	Nov 24	Apr 17	Jan 24	June 17	March 26	Aug 17	Nay 26	Oct 17	July 26	Dec 17	Sept 25
Feb sixteen	Nov 25	Apr xviii	January 25	June 18	March 27	Aug 18	May 27	Oct xviii	July 27	December eighteen	Sept 26
Feb 17	Nov 26	April xix	Jan 26	June 19	March 28	Aug 19	May 28	Oct 19	July 28	December 19	Sept 27
Feb 18	November 27	April 20	Jan 27	June xx	March 29	Aug 20	May 29	Oct 20	July 29	Dec 20	Sept 28
February 19	November 28	April 21	January 28	June 21	March 30	Aug 21	May 30	Oct 21	July 30	Dec 21	Sept 29
Feb twenty	November 29	April 22	January 29	June 22	March 31	Aug 22	May 31	October 22	July 31	Dec 22	Sept 30
Feb 21	November thirty	April 23	January thirty	June 23	Apr ane	Aug 23	June 1	Oct 23	Aug 1	December 23	Oct one
Feb 22	Dec 1	April 24	Jan 31	June 24	Apr 2	Aug 24	June 2	Oct 24	Aug 2	Dec 24	Oct 2
February 23	December 2	April 25	Feb 1	June 25	April 3	Aug 25	June 3	October 25	Aug 3	Dec 25	Oct3
Feb 24	Dec 3	April 26	February 2	June 26	April 4	Aug 26	June iv	Oct 26	Aug 4	Dec 26	Oct 4
Feb 25	December 4	April 27	February iii	June 27	April five	Aug 27	June 5	Oct 27	Aug 5	Dec 27	Oct 5
February 26	Dec 5	April 28	Feb 4	June 28	Apr 6	Aug 28	June 6	October 28	Aug half-dozen	Dec 28	October 6
February 27	Dec half dozen	April 29	Feb 5	June 29	April 7	Aug 29	June seven	Oct 29	Aug vii	Dec 29	Oct 7
February 28	Dec vii	Apr thirty	Feb 6	June 30	April viii	Aug thirty	June viii	Oct thirty	Aug 8	Dec 30	Oct eight
March 1	Dec 8	May one	February 7	July 1	April 9	Aug 31	June 9	October 31	Aug ix	Dec 31	Oct 9
March 2	December 9	May 2	February 8	July 2	April 10	Sept 1	June 10	Nov 1	Aug10

Summary

Many calving difficulties could exist eliminated by proper development of replacement heifers and/or breeding first dogie heifers to bulls that will sire calves with below boilerplate birth weights. Of most importance is to know when to help, when to quit, and when it is time to call the veterinarian. Retrieve the length of stage 2 of parturition is important to calf survival and if a trouble cannot be corrected inside twenty to thirty minutes, yous should seek assistance. To larn more almost how to assist cows or heifers at calving, check out two videotapes bachelor from your local OSU Extension Role. These two videos are called VT-323 Calving Management-Parturition and VT-324 Calving Direction-Dystocia. In the second video (VT-324), Dr. Larry Rice, Professor-Emeritus, demonstrates how to check for cervical dilation.

References

Doornbos, D.E., R.A. Bellows, P.J. Burfening and B.W. Knapp. 1984. Furnishings of dam historic period, prepartum nutrition, and duration of labor on productivity and postpartum reproduction in beefiness females. Journal of Animal Science. Vol. 59: pp 1-x.

Patterson, D.J., R.A. Bellows, and P.J. Burfening. 1981. Effects of caesarean section, retained placenta, and vaginal or uterine prolapse on subsequent fertility in beef cattle. Periodical of Animal Science. Vol. 53: pp 916.

Putnam, M.R., L.E. Rice, R.P. Wettemann, K.S. Lusby, and B. Pratt. 1985. Clenbuterol (Planipart^TM) for the postponement of parturition in cattle. Theriogenology. Vol 24. No. 4. pp 385-393.

Glenn Selk
Professor Emeritus

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Source: https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/calving-time-management-for-beef-cows-and-heifers.html

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