What is this?!

Sprout · #1 04/25/06, 08:50 PM

Our heifer is due to calve anytime now. We've been watching her closley, thought she was going to go earlier but 4 days later no baby. Now tonight I put her up in the barn and this really thick mucous is hanging from her vulva. I've seen cattle mucous plugs before in mature dairy cows when I was working at a fair birthing unit but what I saw on her today looks nothing like them. It was white and very very thick. It had the consistency of like play goop, or those childrens sticky hands. Sorry I can't find another good analogy for it. It was also very long I picked up the end that was hanging out and pulled on it to get a better look, saw that it was still in her vulva and peeled back the lips. As far as I could see without touching any internal flesh it continued back. I've never seen anything like this with birth fluids or even any other fluid an animal produces. Is this okay? Normal? She was definatly more aggitated today and was very reluctant to walk from the pasture to the barn.

tinknal · #2 04/25/06, 08:58 PM

Are you sure it is not the plascenta? Could she have calved in the pastere and hid the calf?

SmokedCow · #3 04/25/06, 09:10 PM

I know what your talking about. Its just a discharge. Our cows have it, and they end up alright. Just keep and eye on her...Good Luck!
AJ

Sprout · #4 04/25/06, 09:33 PM

No it is definatly not the placenta.

Alright so it's normal not some infection or early sign of abortion? When did this show up in your cows? Soon before they would calve or later? This heifer has been so much trouble her baby better be the cutest thing in the world.

bretthunting · #5 04/26/06, 03:47 PM

we always called this the "plug" you always see them loose it prior to calving.
brett

SmokedCow · #6 04/26/06, 04:11 PM

Right around the time they were gonna calf...or soon before. Your other cows have prob. had it before, and you just didn't see it.
AJ

Sprout · #7 04/26/06, 09:45 PM

We'll I've seen plugs but never this long or thick, her cervix must be huge. She had a dolp about the size of a man's thumb just hanging this morning. And it's been a day since it started coming and no calf. Are first calf heifers plugs thicker and larger? This mama dosen't seem to be doing anything as far as labor wise, they only thing she wants to do is hang out with the neighbors cows.

cowgirlracer · #8 04/27/06, 11:19 AM

Sprout - any news yet?

Sprout · #9 04/27/06, 02:33 PM

Nope she is dragging her feet as long as she can. But I've read that a heifer can take 72 hours from loosing her plug to starting the second stage of labor. Will definatly keep you guys posted. I need to go steal my friends digital camera so I can post pics of her and hopefully of her baby soon.

JElfering · #10 04/30/06, 06:56 PM

Our cows recently calved and had the same mucous dripping. Each one was different in consistency and timing. Infact, one cow had this experience on 3/21. She was due 4/27 and calved 4/29. She had the most discharge the day before but experienced these discharges periodically the last week or so. So, any news! Our vet said they can calve 10 days on either side of the due date. God speed the little here.

Sprout · #11 05/01/06, 01:48 AM

Well I'll close this post now.

Look under "And weighing in at 90 lbs." she had her calf last thursday I posted more in that thread.