Calf didn't want to be born

[Chris H]

Had a 4 year old cow calve Friday night. This is her 3rd calf and she'd never had a problem before. She was huge and we suspected twins ahead of time. Checked her at 5:30 PM, some membranes hanging out, cow didn't seem to be in active labor. Had a commitment elsewhere. Got home at 9, husband just got her penned. No progression in labor. I went in to check out what was going on. I was inside almost to my shoulder before I could feel and verify the calf's front legs and nose were all pointing in the correct position.
I got a grip on a leg to pull it closer to get a chain on it. The bugger jerked back! I got a chain on after it jerked out of my hand several more times. I handed the chain to my husband so I could get the second chain on and the bugger jerked back hard enough to pull the chain out of my husbands hand! I don't remember if he had the handle hooked up, but even he never saw a calf jerk back so hard!
We did get it out, calf and momma are fine. Told my husband it was a bull the first time he jerked back, and it is.

The cow was fatter than I like, maybe 7.5 BCS, but she hadn't been grained. It was a fairly hard pull, but mostly because the calf hadn't moved up into position to fully dilate the cervix in a natural progression of labor. Nothing out of the ordinary on the position of the calf, the head came on in the correct position when we started jacking on the legs, no chain on the head. I mentioned the cow hadn't seemed to be in active labor when we checked on her at 5:30, she only started to actively push when I examined her and got the calf up to the cervix.

Any thoughts on why the calf just didn't move on up in position to be born when the cow was starting labor? BTW, there was just one, no twin.

 

[TheBullLady]

I think sometimes it just takes a little longer to get the calf into position. I've had mature cows that seemed like they were close, circle and walk and fool around half the night before they got "serious". We rarely will pull one unless it's actually feet out.. of course assuming it's a regular presentation.

Glad to hear mom and baby are doing fine!

 

[Chris H]

I think sometimes it just takes a little longer to get the calf into position. I've had mature cows that seemed like they were close, circle and walk and fool around half the night before they got "serious". We rarely will pull one unless it's actually feet out.. of course assuming it's a regular presentation.

Glad to hear mom and baby are doing fine!

This is one I believe we would have lost if we didn't pull it. By the time I got in her it was 4 hours after we first observed the membranes hanging out. I neglected to say we had been gone all day and had no idea when she started labor. We did have another cow earlier in the season that acted similar but no membranes showed. When we finally got that cow in, the calf was dead and had never moved up into position. We got that one pulled and the afterbirth came right out immediately after the calf, so it had already detached. This is the first time we've experienced the calves not moving up into position.

 

[susie]

How's your mineral program? Seems I heard that lack of muscle tone could be froma mineral deficiency, esp selenium.

Just a thought,
Glad you got him out ok.
Susie

 

[Chris H]

How's your mineral program? Seems I heard that lack of muscle tone could be froma mineral deficiency, esp selenium.

Just a thought,
Glad you got him out ok.
Susie

That's a good place to look. I'd think these would be in good shape. We feed a trace mineral salt with selenium mixed with a 2 & 1 mineral mix which has a base of calcium/phosphorus (2 to 1) with added trace minerals including selenium and vitamins. The mineral mix is loose, fed free choice, replenished at least once a week to maintain quality.
We don't have any other common signs of selenium deficiency, the calves are vigorous, no retained placentas.

 

[Beefy]

do you normally put a chain on the calfs head to pull it?

 

[Pooog1]

The chain is needed over the head to help keep the head in position if the calfs head is slipping back when pulled. This can happen when the calf isn't up far enough or if you ever find one that has its head bent back around and you have to try and straighten it out first.

 

[msscamp]

The chain is needed over the head to help keep the head in position if the calfs head is slipping back when pulled. This can happen when the calf isn't up far enough or if you ever find one that has its head bent back around and you have to try and straighten it out first.

In the interest of newbies who may not understand what you are talking about or the process of pulling a calf, I would suggest you qualify your statement by clarifying how a head-snare is placed.

 

[Pooog1]

The chain is needed over the head to help keep the head in position if the calfs head is slipping back when pulled. This can happen when the calf isn't up far enough or if you ever find one that has its head bent back around and you have to try and straighten it out first.

In the interest of newbies who may not understand what you are talking about or the process of pulling a calf, I would suggest you qualify your statement by clarifying how a head-snare is placed.

I'm sorry for any vague comments..In order to help with a head that is giving you difficulty during calving you would either need to use a device that is commercially made or you can use a chain that you would loop over the poll and behind the ears and through the mouth. This will hold it in place for you. You do need to be careful of the amount of pressure used in order to not hurt the calf. This is just used as a tool to help in the delivery, not to be used alone.

 

[Chris H]

The chain is needed over the head to help keep the head in position if the calfs head is slipping back when pulled. This can happen when the calf isn't up far enough or if you ever find one that has its head bent back around and you have to try and straighten it out first.

In the interest of newbies who may not understand what you are talking about or the process of pulling a calf, I would suggest you qualify your statement by clarifying how a head-snare is placed.

I'm sorry for any vague comments..In order to help with a head that is giving you difficulty during calving you would either need to use a device that is commercially made or you can use a chain that you would loop over the poll and behind the ears and through the mouth. This will hold it in place for you. You do need to be careful of the amount of pressure used in order to not hurt the calf. This is just used as a tool to help in the delivery, not to be used alone.

Thank you Pooog1, great explanation of the use of a a head snare, and when it's use is indicated.
To answer Beefy's question, no, we only used a head chain once this year when the calf's head was turned back and kept turning back as it hit the birth canal. I specifically mentioned no chain on the head so people would know the calf was in the correct position to move on up into the birth canal during the early stages of labor.

 

[msscamp]

The chain is needed over the head to help keep the head in position if the calfs head is slipping back when pulled. This can happen when the calf isn't up far enough or if you ever find one that has its head bent back around and you have to try and straighten it out first.

In the interest of newbies who may not understand what you are talking about or the process of pulling a calf, I would suggest you qualify your statement by clarifying how a head-snare is placed.

I'm sorry for any vague comments..In order to help with a head that is giving you difficulty during calving you would either need to use a device that is commercially made or you can use a chain that you would loop over the poll and behind the ears and through the mouth. This will hold it in place for you. You do need to be careful of the amount of pressure used in order to not hurt the calf. This is just used as a tool to help in the delivery, not to be used alone.

No problem. Thanks for the clarification, and an excellent explanation!

 

[Pooog1]

The chain is needed over the head to help keep the head in position if the calfs head is slipping back when pulled. This can happen when the calf isn't up far enough or if you ever find one that has its head bent back around and you have to try and straighten it out first.

In the interest of newbies who may not understand what you are talking about or the process of pulling a calf, I would suggest you qualify your statement by clarifying how a head-snare is placed.

I'm sorry for any vague comments..In order to help with a head that is giving you difficulty during calving you would either need to use a device that is commercially made or you can use a chain that you would loop over the poll and behind the ears and through the mouth. This will hold it in place for you. You do need to be careful of the amount of pressure used in order to not hurt the calf. This is just used as a tool to help in the delivery, not to be used alone.

No problem. Thanks for the clarification, and an excellent explanation!

I guess sometimes I'm thinking faster than my fingers will type!! Have a great 4th everyone!

 

[msscamp]

The chain is needed over the head to help keep the head in position if the calfs head is slipping back when pulled. This can happen when the calf isn't up far enough or if you ever find one that has its head bent back around and you have to try and straighten it out first.

In the interest of newbies who may not understand what you are talking about or the process of pulling a calf, I would suggest you qualify your statement by clarifying how a head-snare is placed.

I'm sorry for any vague comments..In order to help with a head that is giving you difficulty during calving you would either need to use a device that is commercially made or you can use a chain that you would loop over the poll and behind the ears and through the mouth. This will hold it in place for you. You do need to be careful of the amount of pressure used in order to not hurt the calf. This is just used as a tool to help in the delivery, not to be used alone.

No problem. Thanks for the clarification, and an excellent explanation!

I guess sometimes I'm thinking faster than my fingers will type!! Have a great 4th everyone!

It happens to all of us, you have a great 4th of July!

 

[jcarkie]

i had one that sounds the same, she went 26 hours from the time i saw her acting like she was in labor. she had a membrane hanging out of her and just stopped trying. her uterus ws slightly twisted and the calf didn't enter the birth canal, so she stopped trying. the vet used the chains and head noose to pull the calf.

 

[Chris H]

i had one that sounds the same, she went 26 hours from the time i saw her acting like she was in labor. she had a membrane hanging out of her and just stopped trying. her uterus ws slightly twisted and the calf didn't enter the birth canal, so she stopped trying. the vet used the chains and head noose to pull the calf.

You know, this might be what happened. Things just didn't feel quite right when I went in, but I'd never had to reach in that far to grab a foot before so I don't have a good frame of reference. Usually when we've had to assist at least one foot is sticking out. I'll run all this past our vet next time he's out and see what he thinks.