Producers Primed for Calf Delivery
Published: Friday, March 13, 2020
Whether you're a beef cow-calf producer or a dairyman, what everyone hopes for after a mama cow delivers her calf is a healthy, frisky, thriving calf. And a mother cow that recovers quickly and continues to be a productive part of the herd.
And while most deliveries go reasonably well, Dr. Jonathan Townsend, of the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, says don't count on it.
"I'd say roughly 10 percent of all calf deliveries need some kind of assistance—either from the producer or the veterinarian—to give the best chance of achieving the desired result."
Townsend was a presenter at a recent cow-calf workshop held in Logansport, sponsored by Purdue Extension Service in Carroll and Cass counties. He said that, in a time when both beef and dairy producers are facing tight margins, making the effort to improve your knowledge and skills to turn that ten percent of difficult or abnormal births to your advantage can easily be the difference between profitability, or the lack of it.
"Being proactive in helping those cows that are experiencing some kind of calving difficulty to be able to deliver a healthy calf will definitely have an impact on your bottom line," he said.
Townsend offered a number of basic principles that all cow-calf producers need to know. And in addition, he suggested a number of more in-depth resources for producers who want to improve their knowledge and skills in calf delivery.
Some of the principles Townsend suggests include:
• Know the difference between a normal and an abnormal delivery. "In order to know what to do in case of an abnormal or difficult delivery, the first thing a producer needs to know is what a normal delivery looks and feels like. After you know that, then you'll have a much better idea of what actions you need to take when faced with an abnormal situation," he said.
• Be prepared—knowledge. Knowing how to help a cow deliver a calf in an abnormal situation doesn't happen naturally. Make the effort to learn what to know and do in advance, so you can quickly take action when it's needed.
• Be prepared—equipment. All abnormal calf deliveries take some tools to get the job done correctly. Townsend suggests having a milk bucket, and a set of at least two chains (for pulling calves). And he also recommends buying stainless steel, if possible. While stainless steel is more expensive, it will last longer and do a better job. Other needed items would include a handle for the chains, vinyl arm sleeves, betadine, and an ample supply of lubricant, to put into the cow's uterus, to be better able to position the calf. A pair of waterproof coveralls can also be an extremely handy addition.
• Environment matters. "It's not fun for me, or good for the cow or calf, delivering a calf in a polar vortex, or in mud," said Townsend. "So if the weather's bad, take them to the barn." And in the barn, try to have a place where it's both roomy enough, yet the cow can be somewhat restrained if needed. Also, "Cleanliness is next to godliness," clean straw, clean up the cow's backside, if possible.
• Know the signs of impending delivery, and if possible, observe the cow as she nears time for her delivery. "To keep an eye on the cow and see how she's coming is a good practice," said Townsend. "But don't overdo it. Cows like to be alone during this time, and if you're too obvious about it, it bothers them. Just take a subtle peek in, about every 30 minutes or so."
• Calf jacks. "I love calf jacks, and use them about 75 percent of the time when I have to pull a calf," said Townsend. "They make it so much easier to pull the calf, and I'm not so exhausted when I get done." Although care needs to be exercised, using calf jacks can increase the pulling power from 400 pounds, for two men, to 2,000 pounds for one.
• Know both your own skills and limitations. While being prepared to help a cow with a difficult delivery can minimize your vet bill and greatly improve your batting average, some of those deliveries do require the services of a veterinarian. Knowing when to "call the vet," is an important skill in itself.
• When to call the vet. It's time to call the veterinarian when: You can't decipher what the problem is, You know the problem and the solution, but are unable or don't feel prepared to handle the problem, Know the problem and the solution, have tried, and have made no progress in a 30-minute period. Any delays beyond this point will put the cow and calf in jeopardy.
• Slow and steady wins the race. "When you're faced with a difficult delivery, the natural tendency is to get in a hurry and try to help the cow," he said. "But you're much better off to take your time, assess the situation carefully, and look at it as a 'puzzle that needs to be solved.' After you've done that, then you'll be in a much better position to provide appropriate action and minimize mistakes. And don't be afraid to think outside the box on really perplexing situations."
For beef or dairy producers who would like to improve their knowledge and skills in calf delivery, Dr. Townsend offered the following links to resources (Extension publications) on the subject:
• https://mdc.itap.purdue.edu/item.asp?Item_Number=AS-561-W
• https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/library/ranching/recognizing-and-handling-calving-problems/
In addition, the Purdue College of Veterinary Medicine periodically offers a Calving School, for dairy and beef producers. Topics include managing dystocias, post-partum cow care and newborn calf management. The Calving School also includes demonstrations on facilities and calving, use of an esophageal feeder and dystocia simulations with a life-size cow model.
To get more information on the Calving School, call Dr. Townsend at 765/494-0333, or email him at townsejr@purdue.edu.
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