Knowing when to assist with calving can be a very tricky matter. It requires a delicate balance between not acting too quickly and not reacting too late. Finding this balance requires a lot of experience and a little bit of luck.
If you help too early, there is a chance that you will not need to help at all. Also, you run the risk of injuring the cow as well as the calf. Not to mention, it can impair the bonding process between mom and baby.
Waiting too long can have dire results as well. There is a particular possibility that you will lose both the calf and its momma at the same time, not to mention the expensive veterinary bill if it gets to the point of needing surgery to get the calf out.
So, to help you find the right balance between when to take action or not, I have provided some information to get you on the path to success.
Calving Dystocia
Before we start on the steps you need to take, I suggest going over a few basics. As we know, if you need to pull a calf, that means that your cow is experiencing some form of dystocia.
What is dystocia?
Dystocia is the scientific term for any birthing difficulty. There are usually just three causes of dystocia that you are likely to come across.
The most common cause is that the calf is “too big.” This cause usually occurs in young heifers because they have yet to grow big enough, or you are using a bull that sires calves bigger than she can handle. 50% of all calving problems are with 1st-calf heifers, and 25% are with 2nd-calf heifers. The rest are spread out among all of the cows in the herd.
The second most common cause is the calf not coming out of the cow right. This problem can be caused by either its head being turned around or wanting to come out first. The usual way that a calf should come out is with its front feet first, followed by its head facing forward. This should resemble a “diving forward” type of appearance.
Finally, a third cause would be a lack of uterine contraction or uterine fatigue. While typically, it is rare for this to occur, it does happen. The cow’s low nutritional state can usually cause it.
How to prevent dystocia
Now that we have gone over some of the causes of dystocia, we can now go over what you can do. In what ways can you prevent it from happening in the first place?
One way you can do this is to ensure that your heifers are bred at the correct age and weight. This proper balance will ensure she will be big enough to handle giving birth. Most heifers will reach this stage when they are 12 to 14 months of age and are between 55%-65% of their mature body weight.
Another thing you can do is select bulls that have been shown to be calving ease. Usually, this would mean selecting one with a low birth weight EPD. In order to make this decision easier over the last few years, they have started including a calving ease stat among EPD numbers.
Cows should be in the proper BCS at the time of calving. Acceptable BCS means that they should score in the 5-6 range. If they are too thin, she may be unable to do this. Conversely, if she is too fat, the fat deposits may impede the birthing process. In my previous post, “The calving nutrition article of your dreams” I go over the importance of nutrition during this time.
Courtesy of Beef Improvement Federation
Before breeding season, if possible, you can measure the pelvic area in replacement or bred heifers. This measurement
will tell you if the cow has enough room for the calf to make it out. Research indicates that a 600-pound yearling heifer should have a pelvis at least 11cm wide and 12cm high to deliver a 63-pound calf.
When to assist
Now that we have covered some causes of calving problems and steps that you can take to prevent them. Now, let’s go over what you should do if the need arises.
Let nature take its course.
This idea may seem counterproductive, considering that this article is about how to assist with calving. Still, this is a very overlooked step in the process. Cow-calf producers can have a tendency to develop tunnel vision on only the pregnant cow when calving time approaches. They hang their calf puller and chains near the calving pen and concentrate on getting the newborn calf on the ground. It is vital to help the cow before jumping in and pulling.
Can the calf be born in a way that it gets up, nurses, and receives colostrum promptly? And then will that cow protect the calf and get it safely to weaning? These are some questions that the producer should be asking first.
When the female becomes aware of the approaching delivery, isolation, and nesting are a part of the natural process. It’s essential to let the mother do what mothers naturally want to do in order to kickstart things in the right direction.
Signs that you will need to assist
In most cases, you won’t have to assist in calving, but if you must, here are a few signs to look for.
- The water sac has been visible for 2 hours, and the cow is not trying.
- If the cow has been trying for over 30 minutes and there is no visible progress
- After a period of progress, the cow has quit trying for over 15-29 minutes.
- Cow or calf are showing signs of fatigue or stress. These signs can be something like the calf having a swollen tongue or the cow bleeding from its rectum.
- It actually looks like the delivery is abnormal.
If you want more information on handling dystocia in cattle the website Bovine Veterinarian Online has a very informative article here.
How to assist in calving
Ok, so you have checked your cows, you let things start off naturally, but things have taken a turn. You have observed one or more of the signs above and know that you will need to pull that calf; what do you do? Luckily for you, I have a short checklist that will give you some ideas.
- First, make sure that she cannot deliver this calf on her own. Ensure that the calf really needs your assistance before you go through the hassle of pulling it.
- Next, find out if the cause of dystocia is not caused by the calf being too large. If the calf is too big to pass through the birth canal, you must call the vet. Trying to deliver the calf in this situation non-surgically can cause damage and even death to both the cow and the calf.
- Ensure that the cause of the dystocia is not from the calf being completely turned around. To do this, you must palpate the cow and feel around in there. If the calf is turned around, you must contact your veterinarian.
Your equipment matters
- Use clean equipment. Introducing bacteria inside the cow can reduce fertility, meaning it will take longer until the cow returns to heat.
- Do not use liquid soap as a lubricant. The composition of liquid soap will break down the natural lubricant of the cow. Methylcellulose-based lubricant is best; cooking oil or petroleum jelly can also be used.
- Use a 60-inch chain over 39 inches. The location where you want to loop the chain is just below the dewclaw but above the hoof (see the picture below)
- Pull alternatively on each leg to “walk” the shoulders out. You will want to pull upwards toward the tail head to prevent any damage to the cow.
- You should call the vet if you are not entirely comfortable with your abilities.
