There are three stages to the birthing process, or parturition: dilation of the cervix, delivery of the calf, and delivery of the placenta. Knowing the normal birth process will help you decide whether or not to intervene.
You might not even notice this stage, which may take days to complete. Uterine muscular activity is quiet during this stage as the cervix softens, and the pelvic ligaments relax. At this time, a thick clear mucus (commonly referred to as a ‘string’) may hang from the vagina. The cow’s appetite decreases, and she may prefer to be off by herself. Uterine contractions begin by the end of Stage 1, pushing uterine contents against the cervix, causing further dilation.
Appearance of the water bag through the vulva signals the start of Stage 2 labor. The calf should be delivered within 2 to 5 hours of the appearance of the water bag. More recent research has found that healthy heifers with normal calf presentation will calve unassisted within 1 hour of the start of Stage 2; healthy cows with normal calf presentation calve within 22 minutes of the start of Stage 2.
So, when will cows need assistance? The decision to intervene is a matter of judgment, and judgment improves with experience. The cow that labors over an hour with the calf’s front feet and nose showing and no signs of further progress would certainly appreciate a little help. The cow that labors over an hour with nothing showing obviously needs help. You may feel uneasy watching a laboring cow when you don’t know when Stage 2 actually began. But don’t rush the process. Conduct a vaginal exam to assess the presentation after watching for 20 to 30 minutes.
Begin by cleaning the cow’s vulva, rectum, and surrounding area under the tail as well as your gloved hands and arms with soap and water. Cleanliness is very important. Wear protective sleeves and apply obstetric lubricant to your gloved hands. Place your gloved hand in the vagina and feel for the cervix. If it is not dilated, it will feel as if your fingers are passing through a firm tube. Once dilated fully, you should no longer feel the cervical edge.
Can you put your hand on the calf? Is there straight-line access to touch it? Or does your hand have to turn or twist through folds of vagina in order to touch the calf? If so, a uterine torsion may be present, and you will need to call for veterinary assistance. You may be able to correct uterine torsions with instruction from your veterinarian and bit of practice, but this is something you should not try to correct for the first time on your own.
Anterior (forward) and posterior (backward) calf presentations may be delivered vaginally. Anterior presentation is the head (nose) and two front feet with the spine of the calf resting against the underside of the cow’s spine. Posterior presentation is two rear feet and a tail with the spine of the calf resting against the underside of the cow’s spine.
When assessing the calf’s presentation, determine its orientation in relation to the cow’s spine and find three things belonging to the same calf: two front feet with its head in between or two rear feet with its tail in between. If the presentation is normal, you may allow the cow to labor for 40 minutes to an hour, especially if the water bag is still present around the calf. If the water bag has broken, the calf should be delivered sooner (as long as the cervix is fully dilated).
When is it safe to pull a forward calf?
Start your assessment to determine if the calf is small enough to be delivered vaginally while applying traction with the pull of one person during a contraction. In the standing animal with the calf’s head completely in the pelvic cavity, you should be able to place a hand between the calf’s head and the cow’s backbone. You should also be able to feel both points of the calf’s shoulder 2 inches (three-fingers width) or less forward to the pelvic inlet.
In the recumbent animal you must be able to feel the points of the shoulder 2 inches or less forward of the pelvic inlet as traction is applied by one person.
When is it safe to pull a backward calf?
If you can’t see the hocks with one person pulling, extraction of a posterior presentation may not be possible. When the calf’s hip joints pass into the pelvic canal, its hocks will be visible about one hand’s width beyond the vulva. If you can’t extract the hocks, a pelvic mismatch is occurring; traction should be discontinued, and your veterinarian should be called.
In attempting to correct a malposition, it is useful to list what can’t be done so you don’t waste time trying.
First, get the cow up and on her feet, restrained in a well-lit area that is safe for both you and cow to work in. It is much easier for you to work when both you and the cow are standing. There is more room for you to manipulate the fetus when the cow’s abdominal contents are not pushing up and against the pelvic canal. It may improve your reach if you stand on a firm, raised platform such as a hay bale or block.
There may be times when you can’t get a veterinarian to help with a complicated delivery. The graphics depicted below provide some guidance.1 Whenever possible, however, get a veterinarian to help because the outcome is likely to be far better.
The placenta should shed within 8 to 12 hours of the calf’s delivery. By definition, a retained placenta is one that is not shed after 12 hours. If retained, do not forcibly remove it. The cervix remains open as the placental membranes keep it open. This is a good thing, as healing occurs under aerobic conditions to slough the placenta out in 4 to 7 days. Administration of injectable antibiotics may be warranted if the cow develops a fever. Antibiotics and other supplements placed in the uterus to treat a retained placenta are ineffective and may cause violative drug residues in meat and/or milk. A uterine infection (pyometra) may result if pieces of fetal membranes become trapped behind a closed cervix.
Have your veterinarian conduct 30-day post-calving uterine examinations on those cows that experienced difficult calvings (and/or those whose calves you pulled) or retained placenta.
Citation
1. N. Bruce Hayes, DVM. Keeping Livestock Healthy: A Veterinary Guide. (March, 1982). Garden Way Associates, Inc., 6th printing, pp. 61–67.
