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You don't have to be a veterinarian to determine when a cow will calve. Every cattle owner should know the signs of an impending birth. It is difficult not to notice them, because the behavior of the animal changes greatly, and outwardly the cow looks different.
What is cow calving
In a cow, calving is not only the moment the calf is born, but also the last period of pregnancy. It lasts a certain number of days, usually about 14. During this time, the owner must prepare the conditions for the birth to take place in a comfortable environment. In addition, during this period, you need to carefully monitor the cattle in order to understand that the cow will calve soon. If necessary, the animal will have to be helped.
What are the signs of a cow before calving
Pregnancy in cows lasts about 285 days. However, calving may be delayed for various reasons, but no more than 15 days. In this case, you cannot do without a veterinarian, otherwise you can lose the animal and calf. Usually a month before the coming due date, the cow is still calm.
What a cow does before calving
Changes in her behavior can be noticed a week before calving. The first-calf becomes irritable, hits itself with its tail, gets nervous. When these signs appear, the cow will lose her appetite after a few days. This speaks of the impending birth.
The day before calving, the udder of the heifer is filled with milk, which is a characteristic sign of imminent birth. It can flow out of the nipples. Transparent mucous discharge is observed from the genital tract of the animal - this is a variant of the norm.
When the cow has harbingers of early calving, you need to prepare warm boiled water, clean sterile towels, iodine, laundry soap and a manganese solution. All this will come in handy when the calf comes out.
What a cow looks like before calving
From external signs a week before calving in a cow, the following changes can be observed:
- the labia are swollen, become bright red;
- liquid mucous discharge of a transparent color appears;
- the udder swells, milk flows out of it;
- the pelvic bones diverge;
- the belly drops noticeably.
The cow shows slightly different symptoms just before calving. The animal does not stand well on its feet, constantly lies on its side, and mooes longly.
If the birth is very soon, that the contractions become strong, unbearable. The uterus opens. From the genital tract, the contents of the fetal bladder can flow if it bursts on its own.
How does a cow calve
Before calving, you need to prepare the cow and the premises. The litter is replaced with a fresh one, straw is placed under the head. The genital tract and anus are washed with clean water and soap.
If the cattle is not calving for the first time, then it will do everything on its own. However, there are times when a cow needs help. That is why it is necessary to determine in time that she will calve soon and know how the calving is going.
When the contractions intensify, a gray fetal bladder appears from the vagina. If it did not burst on its own, then it must be torn apart with your hands to free the head of the calf.
Normally, the fetus moves with its front legs, and its hooves look to the ground. There may be a situation where he walks with his hind legs, but then the hooves should look up.In such positions, the calf will be able to get out on its own, it will not need outside help.
The newborn is placed on a clean cloth, after which the umbilical cord is cut off, departing 15 cm from the body. All instruments must be sterile. The end is tied, after having smeared it with iodine. Immediately after this, the calf is brought to the mother to lick off the lubricant. If the calving was difficult, then she may refuse. In this case, the owner will have to wipe the calf himself with a damp warm cloth.
What to do with a cow after calving
Immediately after calving, especially if it was the first, the cow is given the opportunity to lie down for about 30-40 minutes. During this time, the afterbirth should come out, and the uterus should be cleansed. Gradually, the animal regains strength. To make this happen faster, give a salty solution to drink.
After the placenta leaves, the litter is completely changed. The time has come for the first milking. Pre-wash the udder with warm water, massage the nipples. All expressed colostrum is given to the calf. It can be difficult to milk a firstborn, but in the future it will have a good effect on its productivity.
Problems after calving
Most often, calving takes place on its own and does not require human intervention. But with complex childbirth, you cannot do without it. In the following days, the cow needs to be well looked after, especially if there were uterine ruptures and other problems. This will avoid complications in the postpartum period.
The most common problem after parturition is thrush. Its signs can be seen even before childbirth. A white creamy liquid is secreted from the genital tract, there is no mucous secret. The animal must be treated immediately so that the calf does not become infected at the time of calving.
There are times when the placenta does not come out completely. Parts of it remain in the uterus, causing it to become inflamed. From external signs one can observe:
- prolonged bleeding;
- upset stool;
- remnants of the placenta in the vagina.
The animal remains on its side, does not get up. It is difficult to determine the situation on your own; it is better to call a veterinarian who will conduct an examination.
In the first few days after calving, there may be swelling of the udder. Most often it occurs due to an improper diet - not enough straw. This condition can be determined by puffiness, dense structure and bluish color of the udder. The disease requires consultation with a veterinarian.
Tips & Tricks
To reduce the risk of complications after calving, you need to properly care for the animal during pregnancy. At 7.5 months, the cow is transferred to a separate room and the diet is changed. For 14 days before calving, the food should be of especially high quality. All concentrated feeds are removed or their consumption is reduced to once a day. To exclude swelling in a cow, with the first signs of an approaching birth, juicy feed is removed. In the last days of pregnancy, the diet is as follows:
- 60% cereals;
- 24% concentrated feed;
- 16% roughage.
Also, the diet should contain hay, at least 10 kg per head. If it is not there, then you need to give vitamin complexes.
Feeding a pregnant cow plays a big role and is one of the reasons why the animal is walking around. Livestock should eat and drink at least three times a day. With the advent of harbingers of early calving, fiber is introduced into the diet, but calcium intake is reduced. It delays labor.
In addition, experienced cattle owners recommend walking a pregnant cow in the pasture, but no more than three hours. When the time comes, the animal will reduce its activity on its own. Cows that are constantly kept in the stall give birth to non-viable offspring.
Conclusion
You can determine when a cow will calve on your own, but the timing will be very conditional. More precisely, at a later stage of pregnancy, only a veterinarian can say about this after a thorough examination of the uterus.
