What causes feet back at birth?

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tom4018

tom4018

Dumb Old Farmer
Joined
Jan 2, 2004
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Kentucky
Had a heifer last year that I had to pull a calf from, one leg was out and the other one back. Once the second leg was out it was a easy pull. Breed to a different bull after calving last year and had to pull this calf, both legs were back, once I got the legs out calf pretty much fell out. What causes this? I am not going to keep her, 2 strikes at calving and her feet are a concern but curious what may be the problem.

Would you sell her as soon as she has cleaned herself or give her a little time?

Found her this evening with a grapefruit size sack so I thought she was just starting to try to calve, checked her a little later and maybe basketball size sack of fluid. Waited a little longer and she had not progressed any, sack busted while I was out there so put her in the chute and pulled it. Dead calf. I was always taught to give them some time and if the water had not broke things were ok. About 2 hours from the time we seen her with the small sack hanging out until I pulled. Did I wait too long?
 
pdfangus":2ankv5mc said:
my answer to the original question would be that, sometimes Mother Nature is a b___h.
Click to expand...

Reminds us real quick we are not in control.
 
One theory is that the calf doesn;t have enough room inside the cow (big calf or little cow) to rotate into position. I've always figured it was just bad luck. Never have had a cow do it regularly
 
dun":1fwk5rr3 said:
One theory is that the calf doesn;t have enough room inside the cow (big calf or little cow) to rotate into position. I've always figured it was just bad luck. Never have had a cow do it regularly
Click to expand...

Neither one of the calves were big, this one less than 70# last one I would have to look up. I wondered is it was how she was made inside. It will be the last one I pull from her.
 
After 2 in a row I'd be inclined to think it was something about her structure inside.

In general, if the water sack hasn't broken the calf is still OK. But in an abnormal presentation the calf may not get far enough in the birth canal to break the bag. If the calf remains too long inside the placenta could separate and the calf will die. I don't know how long after labor starts that might happen.

Keep her a bit or ship her ASAP? I'd keep her at least a week, longer if you have grass and want to put some weight on her.
 

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