Can someone explain this calving situation to me (Pictures attached below text)

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CrossbredJersey21

CrossbredJersey21

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Hi, I am a animal science college student working at a dairy barn. We had a jersey (nonfirst calf heifer) get dialated like this on Saturday around noon (I assumed this qualified as being in labor (I could be wrong I do not have very much repro experience. My bosses are aware and monitoring her. I was under the impression cattle labor should not last more than six hours. When I was cleaning pens about 48 hours later (Monday morning) I noticed she was still dilated like this. I feel like something is wrong, but I don't have enough experience to make that determination. (first picture is Saturday, second picture is Monday. I don't really have any power to do anything about this but I was wondering if someone could explain this to me.

IMG_7927.mp4IMG_7940.mp4
 
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Silver said:
The pictures don't load up for me
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Silver said:
So what is indicating to you that she's in labour? Has her water broke? I only see a loose vulva which is normal for a cow close to calving but doesn't indicate labour. Dilation of the cervix would indicate labour.
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To be honest it was just how loose her vulva became. Although I have been working in barns for a while I haven't watched a calving yet. This may just be my untrained eyes. Also I kinda assumed I missed the water breaking because I was not actively monitoring the whole time
 
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as I read your original post, I was wondering how a picture would show a dilated cervix. The pic does show a loose vulva which is normal for a cow getting close to calving. if she isn't showing signs of pushing or discomfort, just be patient and wait for her to start the calving process, (tail in the air, mucus discharge, kicking at her stomach, pushing, feet pushed out of the vulva, or any other signs that she is actually in labor.) watching your first calving from start to calf on the ground will be your best source of information so keep your eye on her for the next couple of days.
 
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I don't see any signs of labor in those two videos. I do see some not so common swelling/edema in the lower portion of her vulva but the sloppy vulva is normal. On heifers I've often seen them sloppy (loose) like that weeks or even more than a month ahead of calving. Her parts are preparing for the stretching coming.
Normally you'll know when the water breaks. Unlike humans often the water sack comes out then burst and you'll see the remnants hanging outside. There's usually a fair bit of pushing first. Not all the time but quite often it's outside or mostly outside before breaking. At that point you'll see her tail out or at the least kinked waddling around. She'll usually be up and down pushing and kicking at her sides.
It's hard to tell but I would say from what little I can see in the video of her udder she's not full yet and doesn't seem to have a lot of edema yet but it's very hard to tell from the little I can see. Udders can be a helpful tool of pending calving along with her ligaments at the sides of her tail head. Nothing is 100% but all help put pieces together or pending delivery.
 

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