A Herdman's Handbook for the Modern Homesteader

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Nutrition during pregnancy will greatly influence the ease of delivery. Pregnant heifers should receive a good, well-balanced ration that is relatively high in protein and definitely not fattening. This is especially true the last few months of the gestation period when most of the calf's growth takes place. A fat heifer trying to deliver a fat calf can be a very troublesome situation.

We had a saying in veterinary school: "You can't help 'em if you can't catch 'em'" . . . and, unless you have only one ultra-gentle milk cow, some sort of restraint facilities are desirable.

For a large herd of cattle these facilities may be on the order of a small stockyard with pens, alleys and a catch-chute to hold the animals for simple operations. If you have only a few cattle, something as simple as a stout gate fastened in one corner of a stall might be satisfactory. It need not be fancy. but a good strong chute will be a boon to you if ever you need to restrain a cow for treatment or assistance. Your County Agent can supply plans for the chute and for simple head-catches that you can build yourself.

If you've kept accurate breeding records you'll be all predict the expected calving dates of your herd with reasonable accuracy (see Table 1). In the absence of such records you will have to rely on certain observations.

Contrary to general opinion, the filling of the udder with milk is not a valid indication of imminent parturition. The udder can fill with milk anytime from 4 months to 1 week before calving. A much better indication is enlargement of the vulva. As a cow approaches term, the vulva begins to appear swollen and may enlarge to as much as six times normal size.

The surest sign of impending parturition is the relaxation of the pelvic ligaments, especially those that run from the "tail head" to the "pin-bones". When these ligaments are con relaxed the animal will usually calve in 12 to 24 hours.

Parturition is defined as the various physiolog processes involved in the birth of young. This process is essentially a continuous sequence of events . . . but for purposes of study and explanation, the total episode is usually divided into three separate stages.

The first stage of parturition is characterized by the initiation of uterine contractions and the dilation of the cervix. At this time the cow will be restless, "off" feed and will try to leave the herd to find a secluded place in which to give birth. At, or prior to, this time you may want to confine the cow to a smaller lot or stall so that she can be more frequently observed and more readily available in case of difficulties. If you do confine a cow, be sure that the area where she'll give birth is clean and well-bedded with straw or other absorbent material.

This first stage of uterine contractions and cervix dilation may be as short as 30 minutes in animals that have previously given birth (pluripara), to as long as 24 hours in an animal delivering her firstborn (primipara). The usual range is two to five hours.

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