Circle M
Well-known member
Ok i know this is a rookie question but i have a few bred cows that i don't know exactly when they are due, what signs should i be looking for ?? :?
how to know when a cow is close to caving ?
- Thread starter Circle M
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Faster horses
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A BIG BAG. 
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:Circle M
Well-known member
how soon does her bag get big or how close till she ready to drop ?
passin thru
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Ya know I have been around cows my whole life and I am still looking for that answer also.
I have seen cows get big and tight bags a couple weeks before calving.
They will get loose in the backend.
One of the biggest things is to watch them and notice their actions.........then if they start acting funny, just watch a little closer.
You'll be fine, just trust your intution.
I have seen cows get big and tight bags a couple weeks before calving.
They will get loose in the backend.
One of the biggest things is to watch them and notice their actions.........then if they start acting funny, just watch a little closer.
You'll be fine, just trust your intution.
rancherfred
Well-known member
Keep in mind that every thing I write about will not hold true in all cases, but for the majority of them it will. First thing to look for is what we call "springing." If you get around behind the cow and look at her vulva you will be able to tell right away what I am talking about, especially if she is walking. Most cows vulva's are pinched in and tight without any loose skin, but come calving time you will notice that there is an awful lot of sag. There can be several folds of skin underneath the vulva, and the cow literally will bounce all over the place when she walks. When you start seeing springing keep them up by the barn because the calf is on the way.
The second thing to look for, as has already been mentioned, is an enlarged bag. I have noticed that this isn't as reliable as I would like it to be. Some cows don't develop much of a bag until after the calf is born. If you see the cow is springing and has a tight bag, they should be getting pretty close. If you happen to see a real thick chunk of mucus on their tail they will probably calve within the next two or three days.
All of these are pretty good signs that the cow is getting close, however I have seen cows calve that didn't even have any signs showing, so they aren't 100% accurate. The surest sign of all is strange behavior, but that is probably also the most difficult for a rookie to recognize. The behavior will usually consist of a cow switching her tail back and forth and occasionally kicking at her belly. They might also be pulling their ears back. Generally speaking, they will be displaying signs that they don't feel quite right. Quite often the cow will leave the herd and try to find a secluded spot. When a cow starts exhibiting these signs you know the calf is coming within the next few hours.
The second thing to look for, as has already been mentioned, is an enlarged bag. I have noticed that this isn't as reliable as I would like it to be. Some cows don't develop much of a bag until after the calf is born. If you see the cow is springing and has a tight bag, they should be getting pretty close. If you happen to see a real thick chunk of mucus on their tail they will probably calve within the next two or three days.
All of these are pretty good signs that the cow is getting close, however I have seen cows calve that didn't even have any signs showing, so they aren't 100% accurate. The surest sign of all is strange behavior, but that is probably also the most difficult for a rookie to recognize. The behavior will usually consist of a cow switching her tail back and forth and occasionally kicking at her belly. They might also be pulling their ears back. Generally speaking, they will be displaying signs that they don't feel quite right. Quite often the cow will leave the herd and try to find a secluded spot. When a cow starts exhibiting these signs you know the calf is coming within the next few hours.
Circle M
Well-known member
Well i first of all want to thankyou guys for the advice and what to look for i feel sheepish 
on not knowing exactly what to look for i ask folks around here and they all seem just to say to forget about her and let her do it on her own, but i read lots of posts on here and everybody seems very helpful and very caring about the animals and i just want the best for Momma and calf and want to be ready in case of trouble, another rookie question would be how often do the cows need help when they are giving birth and how long do you know if you need to help pull the calf out, my cows are all 3rd calvers and weigh any where from 1200 to 1570 mostly black and red angus a few mixed piedmontese with angus, i really appreciate the help and you folks taking the time to help me out 
on not knowing exactly what to look for i ask folks around here and they all seem just to say to forget about her and let her do it on her own, but i read lots of posts on here and everybody seems very helpful and very caring about the animals and i just want the best for Momma and calf and want to be ready in case of trouble, another rookie question would be how often do the cows need help when they are giving birth and how long do you know if you need to help pull the calf out, my cows are all 3rd calvers and weigh any where from 1200 to 1570 mostly black and red angus a few mixed piedmontese with angus, i really appreciate the help and you folks taking the time to help me out John SD
Well-known member
If you have two front feet and a nose poking out just give her more time.
An abnormal presentation without both front feet and head present will require assistance. This is usually a bad sign that the calf is already dead or is too big for a normal unassisted birth. Restrain the cow as necessary and shove the calf back in to retrieve the foot or head.
If you find the rear feet are presented it's time to do something now. A backwards calf is usually born alive sucessfully if caught in time. Many times the cow messes around too long before you finally get her in to check. Worst case scenario IMO is a backwards calf with no feet when you reach in and find only a tail!
A good OB strap/chain and handle are great basic tools to have around. Also a good calf puller which hopefully rarely gets used!
If the calf seems too large for both front feet and the head to progress steadily at the same time, you might be in over your head and should seek experienced advice and/or professional assistance before you go any further. The quit while you are ahead plan!
A couple general rules. If the cow goes into hard labor but makes little or no progress it's time to do something. Also if the cow doesn't appear to labor much, but the calf's tongue or other exposed parts swell it's time to do something. Otherwise nature normally takes its course and every cow is a bit different.
Not trying to cause any needless worry here, just some observations. Good luck!!!
An abnormal presentation without both front feet and head present will require assistance. This is usually a bad sign that the calf is already dead or is too big for a normal unassisted birth. Restrain the cow as necessary and shove the calf back in to retrieve the foot or head.
If you find the rear feet are presented it's time to do something now. A backwards calf is usually born alive sucessfully if caught in time. Many times the cow messes around too long before you finally get her in to check. Worst case scenario IMO is a backwards calf with no feet when you reach in and find only a tail!
A good OB strap/chain and handle are great basic tools to have around. Also a good calf puller which hopefully rarely gets used!
If the calf seems too large for both front feet and the head to progress steadily at the same time, you might be in over your head and should seek experienced advice and/or professional assistance before you go any further. The quit while you are ahead plan!
A couple general rules. If the cow goes into hard labor but makes little or no progress it's time to do something. Also if the cow doesn't appear to labor much, but the calf's tongue or other exposed parts swell it's time to do something. Otherwise nature normally takes its course and every cow is a bit different.
Not trying to cause any needless worry here, just some observations. Good luck!!!
Shortgrass
Well-known member
Its good to ask qustions. I'd rather feel sheepish about askin than feel bad about losin a calf. You'll just have to watch close. They are all different. When a calf turns, the cow will get sunk in around the tail head. Its hard to explain any different. That is the best sign I know until you see a bubble, and that is when I really know she will calve.
rancherfred
Well-known member
If all of your cows are third calf or later cows you shouldn't need to help any of them. If you do have to help a single one of these cows I would strongly urge you to sell her in the fall. Once a cow gets past their first calf, baring a wrong presentation, they should be able to calve unassisted.
My general rule of thumb is if the calf is properly presented, I will give the cow an hour from the time I see them in active labor. By active labor I mean she is laying down and pushing. If the calf hasn't been pushed out by then I will get them in and check to see if they are dilated. Usually I do all of my calving alone, so if I have to pull one I will always put the puller on, just because I want to be sure that I have enough help to get the calf out.
If you do have to assist a calf you want to hook your chain or strap on one leg and pop the shoulder through, then hook to the other leg and pop that shoulder through the pelvis. Once both shoulders are through, then you can hook onto both legs and pull. Always pull straight out, never down because you will be locking the calf up if you pull down. Take you time and let the cow stretch to accommodate the the calf. Put some traction on then let the cow push the calf out enough to release the pressure. Continue the process until the calf's head is out. Once you get the calf out to its hips you can take your time and let the fluid drain out of the lungs. The calf can start breathing on its own if it is out to its hips. Depending on the size of the calf you may have to rotate it in the birth canal to get the hips out. I don't know if I can adequately explain how to rotate the calf but I will try. Looking at the cow from the back, take the calf's left leg (your right) and hold it straight out. Then take the other front leg and pull it underneath the left leg. Use the left leg as a pivot point and the right as the lever and you can usually rotate the calf quite easily. Don't use a lot of force to do this because you could damage the calf's legs or shoulders.
A couple of other notes: A cow can have the nose and two front legs sticking out and not be actively pushing. Wait to determine if they need help until you see her actually laying flat out on her side and pushing for a while. If you do have to assist the cow, when you are working the straps onto the legs keep your fingers out of the calf's mouth. We were told at the Beef Cow Symposium that it was stimulation of the calf's mouth that started the timer ticking on the closing of the gut to large antibodies in the colostrum. The longer you have the gut open the more antibodies freely pass into the calves bloodstream and the better the immunity.
My general rule of thumb is if the calf is properly presented, I will give the cow an hour from the time I see them in active labor. By active labor I mean she is laying down and pushing. If the calf hasn't been pushed out by then I will get them in and check to see if they are dilated. Usually I do all of my calving alone, so if I have to pull one I will always put the puller on, just because I want to be sure that I have enough help to get the calf out.
If you do have to assist a calf you want to hook your chain or strap on one leg and pop the shoulder through, then hook to the other leg and pop that shoulder through the pelvis. Once both shoulders are through, then you can hook onto both legs and pull. Always pull straight out, never down because you will be locking the calf up if you pull down. Take you time and let the cow stretch to accommodate the the calf. Put some traction on then let the cow push the calf out enough to release the pressure. Continue the process until the calf's head is out. Once you get the calf out to its hips you can take your time and let the fluid drain out of the lungs. The calf can start breathing on its own if it is out to its hips. Depending on the size of the calf you may have to rotate it in the birth canal to get the hips out. I don't know if I can adequately explain how to rotate the calf but I will try. Looking at the cow from the back, take the calf's left leg (your right) and hold it straight out. Then take the other front leg and pull it underneath the left leg. Use the left leg as a pivot point and the right as the lever and you can usually rotate the calf quite easily. Don't use a lot of force to do this because you could damage the calf's legs or shoulders.
A couple of other notes: A cow can have the nose and two front legs sticking out and not be actively pushing. Wait to determine if they need help until you see her actually laying flat out on her side and pushing for a while. If you do have to assist the cow, when you are working the straps onto the legs keep your fingers out of the calf's mouth. We were told at the Beef Cow Symposium that it was stimulation of the calf's mouth that started the timer ticking on the closing of the gut to large antibodies in the colostrum. The longer you have the gut open the more antibodies freely pass into the calves bloodstream and the better the immunity.
Soapweed
Well-known member
John SD said:
If you see just the back feet coming (because the hooves are upside down), and you get the cow in a headcatch to pull the calf, always stick your arm in to make sure it is the hind legs. Sometimes the entire calf is upside down, and it is the front feet that you see. In this case the calf's head is down under and back, which is even bigger troubles than a breech delivery. If you can feel the hind hocks, you are cleared for take-off to pull the backwards calf. Pull slowly, and only pull when the cow is having a contraction so she is helping. Once you get the hips out, pull steadily, not fast but not too slow. Once the cord breaks, the calf can suffocate in its present surroundings pretty fast. The moment the calf gets out, find a piece of straw to stick up its nostrils to get it right to breathing. If possible, it is best to have two people on hand for a backwards presentation. While one is promoting life in the newborn calf, the other can get the cow up and take her mind off of prolapsing.
Another helpful hint: If you are pulling a big calf with a normal presentation, always make sure the chain is not over the calf's tongue. If this ever happens, it is very bad for the calf's sucking ability. Anytime I pull a calf, I always use a chain instead of a strap. A vet showed me how to put one loop above the ankle and, using the same chain, make a half hitch between the ankle and the hooves. This only puts half the pressure on each location. We hardly ever get a calf with turned under ankles by using this method, and chances of breaking a leg are greatly reduced.
Good luck
kolanuraven
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If you want her/them to calve...here' s what ya do as it works for me EVERY time.
Plan something really nice...esp out of town!!
Get yourself all dressed up, smelling pretty and looking slick in your NEW, CLEAN clothes.
Stop and look yourself over in the mirror one last time on your way out to your event that you've waiting on so excitedly for months now.
If that don't crank'em up into calving....nothing will!!!! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
They have wily bovine ways and ESP !!!!
Plan something really nice...esp out of town!!
Get yourself all dressed up, smelling pretty and looking slick in your NEW, CLEAN clothes.
Stop and look yourself over in the mirror one last time on your way out to your event that you've waiting on so excitedly for months now.
If that don't crank'em up into calving....nothing will!!!! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
They have wily bovine ways and ESP !!!!
Faster horses
Well-known member
Kola, you are so right!!!
And in this country when you see them calving, it's on a cold windy day and they are at the highest spot in the pasture. And you know there is a real good chance they will chill down.
Someone told me once that cows are dumber than chickens when it comes for caring for their young.
Not that I believe it, but it makes you think.
The same person said that she thought cows headed for the coldest spot is because they are a little 'fevered' when they calve.
And in this country when you see them calving, it's on a cold windy day and they are at the highest spot in the pasture. And you know there is a real good chance they will chill down.
Someone told me once that cows are dumber than chickens when it comes for caring for their young.
Not that I believe it, but it makes you think.
The same person said that she thought cows headed for the coldest spot is because they are a little 'fevered' when they calve.
randiliana
Well-known member
Here is a really good and informative link. Has a lot of info, and is worth the time to check it all out.
http://www.alotangus.org/calf.html
http://www.alotangus.org/calf.html
John SD
Well-known member
Faster horses said:
FH, I think on a warm day cows pick a waterhole or right next to a waterhole to calve for the same reason! :roll: Of course in this country that hasn't been a problem for several years. It's best to have a calving pasture with no surface water, because if it can be done a cow will do it! :shock: :wink:
John SD
Well-known member
HAY MAKER said:
Haymaker, how do you see at all after the gals have caused your eyes to swell shut??? :shock: :twisted: :roll:
:lol: :wink:BTW, I do agree with your advice!
OldDog/NewTricks
Well-known member
The bet way to tell
This Hefier is dam close!
This Hefier is dam close!
passin thru
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In addition, find somone who is a cowman..............be careful of drugstore cowboys. Go to there place if they are calving and just hang out with them. Hopefully they would start before your cows.
Mike
Well-known member
Circle M said:
From my own personal observations, and some may laugh, but when the tailhead lifts a little and they get a hollow looking indention one each side of the tailhead they are within 48 hours, or thereabouts.
Works better on some than others but I'm usually right at least 10% of the time. :lol: :lol: :lol:
