Problems at Calving
Kathryn Stott
As spring approaches so does our busiest time for calvings. Whilst we do see calvings all year round, there is always a peak in spring. The ideal calving will always be a healthy calf, born from a healthy dam, with minimal intervention. Unfortunately, this is not always the case and sometimes we get called out to assist. The timing of intervention is one of the most significant factors that can influences a successful calving outcome. Giving the cow enough time to allow her to open up and the calf to engage in the cor- rect position is always important. In some cases though, no amount of time will allow the cow to give birth unassisted. So the question is, how much time do you give them before you intervene?
Labour is categorised into three different stages:
Stage 1
dilation of the cervix and the start of contractions to
get the calf into its normal position.
6 hours—it is important not to rush at this point as
attempting to pull the calf put before the cow is fully
dilated can result in tearing to the cow ’ s birth canal.
By the end of this stage you should be able to feel
the calf ’ s feet within the birth canal.
Stage 2
Expulsion of the calf; typically begins when the
‘ water bag ’ appears
30mins to 4 hours
Stage 3
Expulsion of the placenta
Within 6 hours of birth
There are many ways a calf can present abnormally. A calf should be coming with two front feet and a head. When checking a calf ’ s position, you need to ask, how many legs do I have, and are they front legs or back legs? The presence of the head or a tail is usually the biggest indicator of if the calf is coming forwards or backwards, but it isn ’ t always that easy to determine. If the legs you can feel are front legs, they should bend in the shape of a C, as the two joints (fetlock and knee) bend the same way.
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