goddy
Well-known member
Hi there, still got 2 cows hanging on and wondered what peoples thoughts +/or experiences with inducing calving i cows past due date was. Any input would be helpful - thanks in advance.
Inducing cows
- Thread starter goddy
- Start date
regolith
Well-known member
No.
Okay, how far past the due date, how definite is the due date and how close to exploding are they if you don't induce them? Is calf size a concern?
You might have figured I have a bit of experience with cows being induced well before their due date. One of my best Jerseys died last year out on lease as the result of an attempt to induce her. It is *not* a safe procedure.
Latest vet newsletter is hinting at a total ban on early inductions by 2014... not before time, this has been dragging on for years.
In '96 the farm I was on had two heifers well bagged up, leaking milk and a little overdue. They were induced and calved with no complications. No farm I've been on since has seen the need to vet-induce overdue cows but it's also known that... if you're a dairy that has fresh colostrum on hand, if a cow or heifer is bagging up real tight milking her will probably induce calving and you can grab the calf and bottle feed it with another cow's colostrum.
Okay, how far past the due date, how definite is the due date and how close to exploding are they if you don't induce them? Is calf size a concern?
You might have figured I have a bit of experience with cows being induced well before their due date. One of my best Jerseys died last year out on lease as the result of an attempt to induce her. It is *not* a safe procedure.
Latest vet newsletter is hinting at a total ban on early inductions by 2014... not before time, this has been dragging on for years.
In '96 the farm I was on had two heifers well bagged up, leaking milk and a little overdue. They were induced and calved with no complications. No farm I've been on since has seen the need to vet-induce overdue cows but it's also known that... if you're a dairy that has fresh colostrum on hand, if a cow or heifer is bagging up real tight milking her will probably induce calving and you can grab the calf and bottle feed it with another cow's colostrum.
randiliana
Well-known member
We've induced occasionally, but only cows that had a major reason for it. Usually cows with bad vaginal prolapses, that are showing pretty heavy. These are cull cows, so it isn't a huge problem if they don't clean or breed back quickly, as they won't be getting bred again anyways. We've never induced a cow that was overdue, personally I think you are asking for as many or more problems than you are going to avoid... Plus, there is always a chance that your overdue cows aren't overdue, but maybe bred on a different cycle or to a different bull and you will have a early calf rather than an overdue calf.
Randi implied this, but I will spell it out a little. Anytime a cow is induced, you are looking at a high probability of a retained placenta, which is always a possible reason for delayed estrous for rebreeding. There will be many that will say, "I induced and she didn't have a RP and bred right back". Yes, there are many that don't have a problem, cows like to make liars out of us. But, a vet will forewarn you to "expect" this problem.
And again, you have to be certain of the due date.
If there is a specific potential problem, it is a tool to be used. But, if you are contemplating doing it because you want to get done with calving, I would advise against it.
And again, you have to be certain of the due date.
If there is a specific potential problem, it is a tool to be used. But, if you are contemplating doing it because you want to get done with calving, I would advise against it.
goddy
Well-known member
Thanks - seems like a lot more reasons not to do it than do , so I will just be patient 
