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Calving - a quick reference

With spring fast approaching, a refresher on calving cows is probably timely.  The key is that you need to know what is normal to recognise what is abnormal, so firstly here's a quick overview of normal:

NORMAL 1st stage labour  -  Dilation of cervix

  • Cow uncomfortable. Behavioural signs include restlessness, picking at feed, stands with back arched and tailed raised, repeated lying down and standing up
  • Lasts for 6 hours (range 2-12 hours) - longer in heifers
  • Can be a variation in signs, so check calving date, see if springing up or has swollen vulva. Age of cow can be an influence as some older cows may give no indication, whereas heifers often show colic-like symptoms for 12 hours

 NORMAL 2nd stage of labour  -  Period of straining and delivery

  • Starts with the onset of straining.
  • Appearance of water bag/breaking of waters
  • Recumbent as head exits vulva
  • Average time is 70 minutes (range 30 minutes to 4 hours)

NORMAL 3rd stage of labour  - Passing of membranes

  • Usually within 8 hours
  • Longer than 24 hours is abnormal and indicates a retained foetal membrane (RFM)

So ... ABNORMAL would be 1st stage longer than 6 hours or 2nd stage longer than 2 hours of pushing.  If the labour appears abnormal and the cow and/or calf is valuable, then CALL THE VET immediately, otherwise:

  • Clean the vulva and your hands and arms
  • Use plenty of lubricant
  • If the calf is not showing, start at STEP 1
  • If the calf is poking out, start at STEP 3

STEP 1  Examine the vagina and see if it feels normal.  Check for any rips and tears or twisted uterus.

STEP 2  Examine the cervix.  Is it open, only partially open or is it a twisted uterus?  Is she not really calving?  Is it really colic?

STEP 3  Determine if the calf is alive by:

  • Finger in mouth
  • Pinch between the toes
  • Gentle pressure on eye

Response by the calf to any of the above indicates the calf is alive so continue to calve the cow.  If there is no response to any of the above, the calf is most likely dead.  Provided the cow is healthy, continue to calve her.  If she is looking sick or there is a bad smell CALL THE VET.

STEP 4  How is the calf presented?  Make sure you know what you have before you pull ... if you have no idea what you are feeling, CALL the VET!  Presentations are many and varied ...

Head first presentations:

  • Head and 2 front legs = NORMAL = OK to pull
  • Head and 1 front leg = leg back = needs correcting
  • No head and 2 legs = head back = needs correcting
  • Head and 2 legs but no response to traction = dog sitting posture/twins/foetal oversize (calf too big) = CALL THE VET

Tail end first presentations - abnormal:

  • Tail and 2 back legs = backwards presentation = OK to pull
  • Tail and bum = breech = difficult to correct without drugs, can rip the uterus easily without drugs = CALL THE VET

STEP 5  Will it fit through the pelvis?  This is a judgement call that gets easier with experience but points to remember are:

  • Feet and head must fit in the pelvis at the same time - don't pull if it won't fit!
  • For traction, you can use a pulley or a calving jack - do NOT use uncontrolled pressure eg tractor, bike
  • Calving paralysis more likely for longer calving
  • TEN MINUTE RULE for pulling - more than 10 minutes is taking too long so CALL THE VET if:
                No progress in 10 minutes
                Very slow progress in 10 minutes
                Not ready to pull in 10 minutes