Calve A Cow

Calve A Cow

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Calving a cow is a systematic process.

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Cows should calve within half an hour of the water bag. Heifers take longer up to two hours.

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If animals are taking any longer than this ( or continual progress isn't happening ) you need to intervene.

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Ensure your hands and arms are clean.

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Work out which legs are coming. Usually front feet point down AND the first two joints bend the same way.

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Back feet usually point up and the first two joints bend in different directions.

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Correct anything wrong like legs back etc.

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USE THE 10 MINUTE RULE If you aren't making progress stop, rest, reassess.

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Learn to use a head rope or chain. This allows you to see saw the calf out pulling first the legs and then the head, continually swapping.

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Use LOTS OF LUBE Like litres of it. Get an oil pump like this and pump lube in.

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Often the difference in getting a calf out is lube and a head rope.

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KNOW WHEN TO STOP AND SEEK HELP REMEMBER THE 10 MINUTE RULE

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After calving care of cow Long hard calving need meloxicam. Only use antibiotics if you are calving a cow for more than a simple calving. Always give oxytocin.

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Don't forget the calf and tube it with colostrum