- A few weeks before calving the cow will 'bag up'.
- Nearer calving her vulva will swell and you may see some mucous discharge.
- The cow will separate from the herd if there is room to find a quiet area.
- She will prepare a birth site by smelling the ground, pawing the ground with her front feet, and going round and round.
- She’ll get up and down a lot as birth pains start to build up.
- A small 'water bag' will appear protruding from the vulva. This is the bag the calf is in and is quite normal.
- A prolapse is a large red organ - this is the vagina and uterus turned inside out. This needs very great care to put back and will need veterinary assistance.
- The water bag will burst and then you should see front feet and a nose.
- If you don’t see the front feet and nose - things are not normal and some manipulation may be needed. You may need veterinary help.
- The cow will smell the ground a lot where her waters have burst.
- She’ll then soon lie down and push the calf out.
- She may get up and down during these pushes and look round smelling the ground - almost looking for the calf.
- With the final push the calf will be delivered and the membranes over the calf should rupture.
- The calf may drop out when the cow is standing.
- The cow will stand up and turn round to lick the calf - and hopefully chew the membranes from the calf’s nose so it does not suffocate.
- The cow eating the afterbirth is quite normal.
- The cord will break when the cow turns round. Stretching the cord helps to stop any bleeding.
- Don’t break the cord until the calf starts to breathe.
- The afterbirth will be pushed out soon after the calf. If it does not, don’t worry about it unless it hasn’t appeared in about 4-5 days. Seek veterinary advice.
- Details
- Written by: Dr Clive Dalton
