Having more backwards calves than normal. Just extracted the 7th one of the year. 6 bull calves, one heifer calf. Seems odd, but they say backwards is a "normal presentation", if not real common.
Backwards Calves
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SBMF 2015
Well-known member
We had an over run of backwards calves last year. Saved all but one.
Rydero
Well-known member
That's lots, un-luck of the draw? Hard sometimes not to start reading too much into something like that. (We had a 2nd heifer w/ a uterine prolapse this year - 11 years to have 2 then 11 days to have the next 2).
We don't see them backwards too often outside of twins, usually it turns out ok.
We don't see them backwards too often outside of twins, usually it turns out ok.
sim.-ang.king
Well-known member
How many were twins?
OP
OP
None.
"They" say that 5% is normal, and I'm way under that. Although who knows how many are born backwards that we never see?
Josher
Well-known member
We typically don’t get many backwards calves but a few years ago we had 4 or 5 and they were all from the same gelbvieh bull. That was his first and only set of calves here wether it was his fault or not lol. Is that a genetic thing or is it caused by something else? Something I’ve wondered.
OP
OP
I believe it is a totally random event.
Rydero
Well-known member
We're way under 5% maybe 1 or 2. Guess someone has to have lots to bring the average up to 5, so thank you - they stress me out I'd way rather watch them calve on the camera then go out there and pull them out worried if I'm not fast enough they'll suffocate, lol.
OP
OP
Last year I had 2, year before I had 4. Even at 7 this year it's only 3% so far.
Last year was the year for uterine prolapses. Went years without one then I last year had 3. Should be good for a few more years I think!
Stocker Steve
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How many were big calves or small cows?
Rydero
Well-known member
Hopefully you're good on both for a while. We had to have another prolapse to "prove" we could save them. After the 2nd one that was a better outcome without a vet or a stitch even I was even more sure that the heifer we lost couldn't be saved. She was off from the start, bleeding internally. The calf is doing great and unlucky for her/lucky for me I haven't needed her to put on another cow yet.
OP
OP
A
A couple were pretty big calves for sure. Maybe couldn't do the final flip into forwards position.
Ky hills
Well-known member
I’ve don’t know of any evidence to back it up but have heard some folks say some bulls were more prone to that type presentation of calves. Once heard somebody say that if the calves were real long bodied they were more prone to it. No idea if there’s any thing to those thoughts or not. Were the calves by the same bull?
Nesikep
Well-known member
I started off my year with a backwards calf, mid sized from a 9 year old cow, she looked HUGE before calving.. the one that had twins the year before (she had both twins unassisted).. If I see them having a backwards calf and I'm there, I'll help whether needed or not.. I have never regretted it
Last year I had one with a front leg back, was a close call on that one, got as far out as his nose and that was it.. was pretty swollen up, I shoved him back in to warm up, cow was super cooperative
We've had 3 uterine prolapses in 30 years.. that's never a fun night
Rydero
Well-known member
Not fun? We call it date night lol. Last Saturday,10:30pm, raining a bit. I got a bloodied tail right to the face. She pushed so hard against me putting it back in I thought my hands would fall off from the aching...good times.
I've honestly never seen a cow/heifer in labor with a backwards calf in my herd. But I'm sure there have been plenty and my big, fat girls somehow spit 'em out.
FlyingLSimmentals
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We've had more trouble with the same cow repeating it back to back over the years.
OP
OP
Looking back through my records I can't find a repeat offender.
Hoser
Well-known member
Last year I caught the very end of a backwards birth that the cow was able to push out on her own. Made me wonder how many are backwards that we don't know about. The next one we had to assist.
Dubcharo
Well-known member
We had 5 backwards calves in the first 50 cows and in the 50 others we saw just 1 and it was a twin, the second one.
