Calving question.

[jknott]

Can anyone predict when a cow will give birth when her milk is already oozing out of her nipples? This particular cow has already had 4 or 5 calves. Is this a sign of any complications to come?

 

[jerry27150]

has she had any signs of having labor pains before now & quit showing signs. does she still act normal & eat alright? ( rare ) for a beef cow to leak milk before calving. uterus could be twisted or something else wrong, but if she acts alright, i wouldn't worry

 

[jknott]

She is eating and acting right. Just strange to be leaking milk. She's due any day so I guess my question should have been is this a sign calving is very near or within a day or two?

 

[dun]

Leaking isn;t a very reliable sign. Feet sticking out the back end are

 

[regolith]

I usually expect the calf within 24 hours of a fully-bagged cow starting to leak milk.

But it doesn't hold true of all - and some individuals leak milk from dry-off right through to calving. Oh yes, and during lactation as well.
I didn't know it was rare with beef cows. I work with dairy.