cows calving -- for newbies -- pictures

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We lost the calf from this Beefmaster heifer. It was a night birth and we found the calf the next morning. The calf weighed around 75 pounds. The heifer's tail looks swollen and has a different position. Has anyone seen this before?
 

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For those who wonder what normal will look like... (and those experienced folks feel free to add more to the info I've given)

Cows calving:
This black first-calf heifer took about 45 minutes, maybe a bit more from start to finish.

Tail extended, she's thinking about it...
12mucusb4calving.jpg


Laying down, front feet showing but enclosed in the sac...
12feetshowing.jpg


Up and sac has broken over the hooves...
12feetshowing_standing.jpg


There's the nose...
12noseshowing.jpg


All out... too fast to catch on camera
12calfout.jpg


Cleaning him off and he's up on his feet now...
12scalfstanding.jpg


Looking for a drink, he's headed in the right direction
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Whew, that was a long day!
12andcalf_napping.jpg


And another series, courtesy of JerseyLily:


There's a few points that need to be emphasized here:

1) If the cow is in active labor for much more than an hour -- straining, no calf, or feet showing but no more progress -- and the cow hasn't been disturbed (hard to make progress when you're constantly being checked on!) you need a vet or an experienced friend/neighbor/mentor to come check on and probably pull the calf.
2) If the back feet are showing the calf needs to be pulled ASAP. The calf only has about 4 minutes from the time the cord is broken until he dies when in a backwards presentation, and most cows can't spit the calf out that quickly.
3) If only one foot is showing, one foot plus a nose, both feet but no head, head but no feet, etc etc... vet needs to be called pronto.
4) Calf needs colostrum preferably within 2 hours, definitely within 12 hours, and after 24 hours if the calf hasn't had colostrum, you've got a tough battle ahead to keep the lil bugger alive. If you bottle feed it, give a half gallon ASAP after birth, and another half gallon 12 hours later.

Cows prior to calving (pics taken 12-24 hours before):

Older dairy cow -- note udder and teats are full and tight
cows552.jpg


Another older dairy cow -- note the full udder
311beforecalving08.jpg


Same cow -- note the sunken area around tail and hips, also the slab-sided appearance (esp on right side) signifying the calf has dropped into position for birth
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First calf dairy/beef cross heifer -- note the edema on her underline; some have it, some don't, it's normal and will go away in time
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same heifer from the rear
12rearview6808.jpg


Beef heifer before calving -- note mucus and "floppy" vulva
priortocalving.jpg


Dairy influenced cows usually show more signs before calving and they'll have a bigger udder and softer vulva before calving than a beef cow will, generally. A dairy cow usually takes between 7 and 18 days from the time she starts bagging up until she calves. A beef cow may be much shorter. And a heifer, dairy or beef, doesn't follow any of the rules. :lol2:

If the beef folks have some more pics of beef animals that'd be appreciated...
This is a great set of pics. Thanks for sharing. This is my second calving season. Good examples are always helpful.
 

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