Calf Birthing Advice from Harrier Fields Farm

Birth sequence:

1. Fluid-filled bubble often appears (but not always).




2. Feet appear.




3. Cow may lie down and get up repeatedly. (For a birth we attended, she laid down once.)




4. Nose can be seen between feet, if calf is positioned correctly.




5. Head appears. Tongue normally hangs out. This looks awful, but is normal. Shoulders emerge and the rest slips out rather easily. If cow is standing, break the calf's fall.




6. Clear the mucus from the calf's nose and mouth and make sure the calf is breathing, then step back and let the cow take over.




7. She will "talk" to her baby (making soft continuous moos) and vigorously lick her calf.




8. Calf will make attempts to rise to its feet, first falling but getting stronger at every attempt.




9. Calf begins to nurse after nuzzling about a bit. If calf hasn't nursed within an hour or so, we try to put the calf on the mother (if she is cooperative).
   
   
   Sometimes we have to put her in headlock. If calf doesn't suck, milk out some colostrum and feed it to the calf. We have found that a 60 cc syringe (no needle!) will work fine to get milk down its throat. The colostrums works like magic and the calf will probably gain enough strength to nurse on its own. If not, repeat the syringe feeding (about 100 cc's at a time until the calf nurses on its own.)
   
   
10. After nursing, mother and cow lie down together. It is best to have them by themselves if possible. The afterbirth is shed within the first few hours usually, but sometimes not for 24 hours. Longer than that is a problem for the vet. It is good for the cow to eat the afterbirth.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

If water breaks and an hour later cow is still roaming, getting up and lying down, and the feet have disappeared, make an examination to see if the birthing position is correct. You should be able to feel the head just behind the feet. Slip on pulling chains -- from your wrists over the calf's ankles and pull downward if she's standing -- a bit forward if she's lying down. Work with the contractions, if there are any.

If back feet are positioned first, don't waste any time getting the chains on and pulling as quickly as you can. In this position the umbilical is severed and the calf suffocates if you are not quick enough. If your vet is located closer than ours, you may have time to call for help. We don't.

Using a bit of mineral oil or liquid soap for lubrication may help get a large head slide through the opening.