How long before assisting
- Thread starter dt34715
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Hook
Well-known member
Unless it's obvious there's a problem:
Mature cows 2 hrs
Heifers 4 hrs
Mature cows 2 hrs
Heifers 4 hrs
Cibster
Well-known member
What Hook said. Unless I see an obvious problem I wait, and then wait some more and try to be confident that they will have it on their own.....and 95% of the time they do.
herefordlover
Well-known member
I would rather help and have a love cow and calf than wait x amount of time and have amdead calf and maybe cow
regolith
Well-known member
dun":uy6vclzq said:
I'd go with these numbers. By the time the water breaks she's well under way and you should be able to sit down and watch the calf arrive.
There's probably been other signs of calving for several hours before the water breaks - tail hanging out, moving out of the herd, circling, discharge of cervical plug, leaking milk. If there's definite signs in the morning I usually check by mid-afternoon if a calf hasn't arrived
Koffi Babone
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 25, 2014
- Messages
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It depends on the situation. Can you safely restrain the mother or are you likely to get injured?
I tend to be very proactive (but my view is biased because I was paid to do something). Once the waters have ruptured, there is no harm in having a feel so long as you are relatively clean.
1) Put a halter on and tie the mother (make sure there is enough slack so that she can still lie down)
2) Wash the rear end with a mild soap and clean water. And tie the tail.
3) Remove your hand/arm jewelry. Wash your arms and hands (and you can also wear rectal gloves)
4) Have a feel inside:
A) Do you have a head and two feet? Yes.
i) Is the calf moving? Yes, you can step back and observe her (I tend to agree with Dun's estimates)
ii) Calf is not moving. Pinch a foot or tongue, if there is a response, you can step back and observe.
iii) No response after pinching. The mother will probably need help. If you don't know what to do call for help (vet).
B) You do not have two feet and a head: The mother will most likely need help.
i) If you do not know what to do, call for help
ii) If you know what to do, know your limits.
Remember that the faster you call for help, the better the chance of getting a live calf. Vets are expensive, yes, but once the calf dies, the vet cannot bring them back to life.
I tend to be very proactive (but my view is biased because I was paid to do something). Once the waters have ruptured, there is no harm in having a feel so long as you are relatively clean.
1) Put a halter on and tie the mother (make sure there is enough slack so that she can still lie down)
2) Wash the rear end with a mild soap and clean water. And tie the tail.
3) Remove your hand/arm jewelry. Wash your arms and hands (and you can also wear rectal gloves)
4) Have a feel inside:
A) Do you have a head and two feet? Yes.
i) Is the calf moving? Yes, you can step back and observe her (I tend to agree with Dun's estimates)
ii) Calf is not moving. Pinch a foot or tongue, if there is a response, you can step back and observe.
iii) No response after pinching. The mother will probably need help. If you don't know what to do call for help (vet).
B) You do not have two feet and a head: The mother will most likely need help.
i) If you do not know what to do, call for help
ii) If you know what to do, know your limits.
Remember that the faster you call for help, the better the chance of getting a live calf. Vets are expensive, yes, but once the calf dies, the vet cannot bring them back to life.
Nesikep
Well-known member
I'm with dun, I rather give a hand when it's not absolutely necessary than wait and have trouble, and I look for progress in a given timeframe rather than a schedule... If the cow isn't laying down, progress will be slow, so you kinda have to wait for her to lay down... If she's laying down, a half hour after the water breaks you should see the feet and nose, and usually a half hour after that (if she isn't getting up and pacing eternally), you ought to have a calf.
One of the reasons I would rather assist when not quite needed is both the cow and calf will have more energy, and the less retarded calves I have to deal with the happier I am
One of the reasons I would rather assist when not quite needed is both the cow and calf will have more energy, and the less retarded calves I have to deal with the happier I am
Agreed. We watched a heifer in labor for way too long in Feb. and it showed. Should've assisted at least an hour earlier.dun":24u88ukg said:
But what about weather conditions??? Does that or any other variable affect your limits on when to intervene?
BTW. Surprise "oh crap I thought she wasn't going to calf last night" calves are the best cattlemen's high ever, IMO. Little guy/gal jumping pissing and pooing along with momma cleaned up already and milked. Just me
slick4591
Well-known member
I usually roll up on one and see the hooves out. I'll watch and see if there's progress for a few minutes and if not I'll jump in. I don't have a time limit, just do what the conditions look like.
Nesikep
Well-known member
Since my cows for the most part are friendly after calving, in cold weather I'll get the little one up as soon as it's been licked off, and get them nursing ASAP, when it's warm I usually don't bother much, they've got much more time. Weather doesn't play much of a role for assisting the birth though.
I'll add that it is dependant on what I see. Feet wrong side up (backwards calf), tail and no feet (breech), 1 foot out a long ways without the other or 2 feet well out and no nose (malpresented calf) and I'll jump in a whole lot quicker.herofan":kdjewmix said:
Just calved out a group of 40 heifers that I bought bred to a "LBW" gelbvieh. I ended up pulling 15. After I pulled my second dead calf I started pulling as soon as I noticed them calving. Ended up losing 4 total, but I feel like I saved many by not waiting.. the ones that I weighed were all over 88 lbs with the heaviest being 105.. they all had MASSIVE heads.. looked like pitt bulls.
regolith
Well-known member
Lazy M":3gq22re6 said:
That alone is sufficient reason to intervene early.
As long as cervix is fully open and calf is ready to come, a lot of headache can be saved by pulling the calf before it's dead and she's got paralysis.
talltimber
Well-known member
Do you all have that gentle of cows? I haven't had to pull any since I've started running them, but have helped my Dad and Grandpa a number of times. I can't think of but maybe once where we could pull one and the cow not be in the headcatcher or at least tied in the barn.
But, I didn't think that they were gonna let me eartag the babies either and I've managed to get them all but one. But, I had to be slick about some of them.
They're real gentle from say, one week after calving and on, but while they are calving and immediately after, some are pretty hot.
Do you bring them up to close to the barn when you are expecting them? You drive them to the barn, with them trying to calve? I'm still trying to work out the particulars.
But, I didn't think that they were gonna let me eartag the babies either and I've managed to get them all but one. But, I had to be slick about some of them.
They're real gentle from say, one week after calving and on, but while they are calving and immediately after, some are pretty hot.
Do you bring them up to close to the barn when you are expecting them? You drive them to the barn, with them trying to calve? I'm still trying to work out the particulars.
