Signs of impending birth

[edeveer]

Hi everyone,
I live in Boston and I am writing a novel. I recently decided to include a calving scene in which an undernourished cow gives birth to a malformed calf. The novel takes place in the 1930's. I don't need a ton of detail, I just need enough basic calving information to make the scene sound real.

Here are my basic questions:
- what does a pregnant cow look like?
- how do you know the calf will be born in the next 2-3 weeks?
- how do you know it will be born very soon?
- would a farmer try to have someone keep constant watch over the cow if they knew the calf was coming soon?
- what is the birth process like?
- anything else?

If you know of any books or web sites that describe these things well, feel free to pass that along!

Thanks so much for your help,
Elizabeth

 

[edeveer]

Hi folks,
I see that you are looking at this post but not responding. Is my question too broad/vague? Let me know. I know you all have lived through this and have very much wisdom to share with me.

thanks!
Elizabeth

 

[coolpop]

I would say read some of the posts regarding calving, there was one last week about "signs a calf is coming" that some people responded to - each cow is different - each birth can be different - learn the general knowledge and you can make the details whatever you want in your book.

Good luck with your book!

 

[jcarkie]

some of these symptoms can be seen from up to a couple of months before to days before. generally speaking a cow will start loosen in the back end, the vulva begins to swell and get bigger. she will start to fill the udder the closer she gets until it is very tight and swelled. she will also start to pass strings of mucus from her vulva, it generally will get thicker and more abundant as she gets close. then she will pass what is called a mucus plug then a few hours before the event she will begin to stay off to herself. all cows are different but generally this is the progression hope this helps some.

 

[Gale Seddon]

Hi Elizabeth,

If you do a search on these boards and on Google ("calving signs"), you'll find a lot of information. I think the following site is a good one and might answer some of your questions also:

http://www.ext.vt.edu/news/periodicals/ ... s-409.html

You'll find lots of information and opinions here, but I think all here would agree that there's nothing quite like seeing a calf being born, make it to its feet and find its first meal...it's absolutely amazing and a wonderful thing to witness. Even more wonderful is when someone has the know-how and expertise on when and how to assist when needed and make it all work out the way it should...I'm still in awe of those who have this knowledge.

Hope this helps!

 

[Chris H]

Well, you said 'undernourished cow' giving birth. Usually she won't have quite the same symptoms as a healthy cow. Their skin is drawn up since there is no fat layer and you won't see the springiness/looseness in the vulva you'd usually see a week or two before calving. Her behavior of separating from the herd will be similar, but if feed is put out she'd probably get up in the middle of calving to go eat. I don't think an undernourished cow would be any more likely to have a malformed calf, but the calf would be more likely to be very weak. The cow would have little or no milk; the colostrum wouldn't be of good quality, that's assuming the cow lived through giving birth. She'd be more likely to die from the stress, and more likely to prolapse than a healthy cow. The calf would likely die unless bottle fed, even if the mother lived.

 

[edeveer]

Hi everybody,
I just wanted to thank you all so much for your responses!
I feel like I have learned a lot.

Thank you all so much!
All the best,
Elizabeth