BAGTIC
Well-known member
I am new with cattl, going into my third year.
Our first calving presented a problem when the cow lay down on a gentle slope and could not get up because her legs were pointing uphill. Fortunately we discovered it in time and were able to turn her around where upon she and the calf immediately responded and both are happy and healthy today.
I had never heard of such a thing but it happened again this time with fatal consequences. A very nice registered heifer went in to labor during the night. She laid down in the lee of a pond dam with her back against a new woven fence and her legs lying uphill against the dam. Both mother and calf were dead when we found them in the morning. The birth appeared otherwise normal as the calf's muzzle and front hooves were well clear. I can only blame myself as I have a separate calving paddock, all level with its own water a shelter but when I checked her that day she was not showing any signs of imminent birth. From now on they will all spend the last two weeks of their pregnancy in the 'maternity ward'. I simply can not afford to lose any more nearly irreplaceable broodstock along with their precious calves.
Our first calving presented a problem when the cow lay down on a gentle slope and could not get up because her legs were pointing uphill. Fortunately we discovered it in time and were able to turn her around where upon she and the calf immediately responded and both are happy and healthy today.
I had never heard of such a thing but it happened again this time with fatal consequences. A very nice registered heifer went in to labor during the night. She laid down in the lee of a pond dam with her back against a new woven fence and her legs lying uphill against the dam. Both mother and calf were dead when we found them in the morning. The birth appeared otherwise normal as the calf's muzzle and front hooves were well clear. I can only blame myself as I have a separate calving paddock, all level with its own water a shelter but when I checked her that day she was not showing any signs of imminent birth. From now on they will all spend the last two weeks of their pregnancy in the 'maternity ward'. I simply can not afford to lose any more nearly irreplaceable broodstock along with their precious calves.