Brush up on calving basics

Figure 1 Normal calving position and Figure 2 posterior position

Recognize normal

Stage 1 of the birthing process is dilation of the cervix. This can take several days to complete and you may only notice a clear mucus string from the vagina. At the end of stage 1, uterine contractions start pushing the uterine contents against the cervix, which causes further dilation.

Stage 2 starts with the appearance of membranes (water bag). The calf should then be delivered in a timely fashion (usually 1 hour).

Figure 4 breech position and Figure 5 head back position

Stage 3 is the passing of the placenta, which can take up to 8–12 hours after the calf is delivered.

The normal calving position is head first with the head resting on the extended front legs, all three engaged in the pelvis [Fig. 1]. The opposite position is posterior, where the rear legs and tail are coming first [Fig. 2]. It is impossible to turn a calf that is coming posterior to deliver it head and front feet first.

There are multiple variations of abnormal positions. The two most commonly encountered are breech [Fig. 4] and head back [Fig. 5].

Know when to intervene

When you first notice a cow in active labor, you should monitor her for hourly progress. If you see a water bag hanging out, wait an hour and if no progress has been made, then do an internal vaginal exam. The exception to the one-hour rule is if a problem is suspected. If so, a vaginal exam should immediately be performed. For example, if one leg and the head are out but there is no sign of the other leg, then immediate intervention is necessary. It is always inadvisable to wait too long for intervention. This is even more important in a heifer versus a cow.

When should you call for veterinary intervention?

If calf is coming rear legs first, the fetal hips should be able to clear the pelvic inlet of the cow. If it feels like the calf will not fit, you will need to call your veterinarian immediately.
If both forelimbs and the poll of the head are not engaged in the pelvis, it may not fit and you will need to call your veterinarian.
Take note of the time when you first reach in. If you are not making significant progress in an hour or are unsure what you are feeling, call your veterinarian for assistance.
Difficulty pulling a calf.
Large calves.
Uterine torsion.
Genetic anomalies.
Fetal monsters.
Anytime you feel it is beyond your skill set.

Tips to consider for correcting mal placements

Feel for a head and two feet or tail and two feet.
You have two feet and a head or tail.
The first and second joints will bend in the same direction on a front leg.
The first and second joints will bend in opposite directions on a rear leg.
Be clean and use plenty of OB lube
Know your limits and when to call your veterinarian for assistance.

This information is from Calving Basics: Pointers for Success, Winter 2021 Producer Outlook.

You have a live calf pulled, now what?

After successfully getting a live calf on the ground, there are a few things you can do to ensure a healthy calf at weaning. Depending on the status of the cow, you may need to rub the calf down and clear its mouth of any mucus or obstructions. Hanging it upside down is not a good idea as this pushes all the abdominal contents against the diaphragm and hinders breathing. Instead, you can use a piece of straw and put it into the calf’s nose to stimulate sneezing and head shaking to clear the airways.

Next, you need to ensure that the calf consumes colostrum, preferably within 6 hours of birth but definitely before 24 hours. This will provide adequate antibodies to fight disease.

If the calf will not nurse, ideally you would want to milk out the cow and tube feed the fresh colostrum to the calf. When using a tube feeder, make sure you have been trained in the proper placement, as it is possible to pass the tube down the trachea and into the lungs. If you cannot milk the cow, there are numerous commercially available colostrum products to totally replace the dam’s first milk or just supplement it.

It is also a good time to give an injectable trace mineral like Multimin®90 to ensure optimal mineral levels for proper immune system development and to prevent deficiency of selenium, zinc, copper and manganese. If there is a chance of fluid in the lungs and a secondary pneumonia, an injectable broad-spectrum antibiotic may be necessary. Depending on the recommendation of your herd health veterinarian, you may also consider an intranasal respiratory vaccine or an oral scour preventative vaccine. This may be deemed necessary, depending on your particular situation.