Calving and Handling Calving Difficulties Guide Available
Dr. R. G. Mortimer, a veterinarian from Colorado State University has written a on guide on Calving and Handling Calving Difficulties. One important part of the document are drawings of calf presentation, calf position and calf posture. The drawings show how to reposition the calf for a more successful delivery. The Chouteau County Extension Office has a handout available. Our office can e-mail it to you, or you can come into our office for a hard copy. We are located in the green building behind the Chouteau County Courthouse. Below is a short summary of the handout.
The most common reason for calf losses in the beef cattle industry is still calving difficulty. Looking only at the effects of calving difficulty on the calf, we find the following four relationships well established in the literature. First, the more difficult the calving process the greater risk for infectious disease. Typically, this is reflected by higher incidences and death loss associated with either diarrhea or respiratory disease. Second, the more difficult the calving process, the harder it is for the calf to maintain body temperature following calving. The third relationship with degree of calving difficulty is the decrease in absorption of protective antibodies. The fourth relationship with calving difficulty
is the increased infertility losses in the dam. In a survey of the effects of dystocia on fertility in 1889 cows, Laster et al. (1973) found that cows which experienced calving difficulties had a delay in resuming estrus and showed 15.9% reduction in conception rate compared with cows which had calved normally.
Commonly, producers and veterinarians alike, agree that successful dytocia management is achieved with a calf that is alive at birth. Dr. Mortimer says that the successful management of calving difficulty is achieved when we optimize calf survivability and dam reproductive performance. Thus, the goal of providing assistance is to minimize stress on the calf and dam.
Montana State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Montana Counties Cooperating. MSU Extension is an equal opportunity/affirmative action provider of educational outreach.
