Nervous calving heifer question

[nchobbyfarm]

I just left the pasture. I have a 1000lb + heifer in labor. She has shown signs all afternoon of beginning. Anyway, about 8pm she began raising her tail and arching her back. But every time I shined the truck lights toward her, she would get nervous and fidget and eventually walk away. I have just come back at 11pm and she is off by herself still arching her back and raising her tail. She laid down once for 3 or 4 minutes then back up. But again the light makes her nervous. I gave up and came home. My question is how often would you experienced owners go check on her throughout the night? I was figuring about 2:30am and again at 5:30. Is that often enough? I don't want to make her to nervous. Thanks.

[haypoint]

What did you see when she lifted her tail? What breed and weight and what breed bull did you use? Don't wait too long.

[nchobbyfarm]

Nothing to see except a long tag of what looks like mucus hanging all day. A neighbor that has cow for decades looked at her at dark and said everything looked great and she would probably have tonight. Her bag is full and tight. She was walking stiff in the back end.

She was bought off the sale but is completely black and looks entirely angus. Bull's dad is a registered angus and mom is a black baldy. Dad is fairly big and mom is average.

The heifer is a big girl with a wide frame. She is nervous by nature and more so by the lights.

[nchobbyfarm]

Cow is up with a calf at her side. Both look good. Mom got a little nervous so I didn't try to get to close.

[myheaven]

Good to hear she and calf are good.

[G. Seddon]

Glad the calf arrived okay. Hope it nursed.

Many people try to keep a cow in labor in a smaller enclosure (preferably with working facility close by, just in case) where she can be checked on more easily than in a big pasture. It also helps to have another cow with her as company. Also not a bad idea to keep a new mother confined with her calf for a day or so they bond and you can intervene if necessary.

Hope it all goes well!

[Delion]

Good for you, it's truly a relief when the calf is delivered safely. Best wishes.

[Dreamfarm]

Congratulations!

[Awnry Abe]

Haypoint, did the calf in the attached pic make it?

When do you all jump in and assist when the delivery isn't proceeding at lightning speed?

Like Haypoint's pic? When the eyes/face is cleared? Or when the head is cleared?

I lost one last spring because I didn't know any better. I'm still a little unsure about when the calf is still safe vs. when the clock is ticking.

[haypoint]

Originally Posted by Awnry Abe

Haypoint, did the calf in the attached pic make it?

When do you all jump in and assist when the delivery isn't proceeding at lightning speed?

Like Haypoint's pic? When the eyes/face is cleared? Or when the head is cleared?

I lost one last spring because I didn't know any better. I'm still a little unsure about when the calf is still safe vs. when the clock is ticking.

This story does not have a happy ending. It is a valuable tool for those that dismiss birthing weight studies when selecting a bull or cross breading.

Both front legs were back. We managed to get them in place without the hooves slicing the birth cannel. His legs were back because he didn't have enough room or to put it another way, he was just too big. It went from a rscue mission to a salvage operation within a few hours. But as often happens with an oversized calf, he "hip locked" , that is to say his pelvis was stuck inside her pelvis. The calf was torn in half in the pulling operation. Then the remaining half had to be cut into sections to get out, taking care not to cut into the cow. We were lucky. Often the hip lock applies enough pressure to a group of nerves near the spine that renders the cow unable to operate her hind legs. This one was just unsteady for a few weeks and nearly back to normal in a year. She has since had a couple seasons of unassisted, problem free calving, using a Registered Angus bull with a documented history of low birth weight.
Cows can struggle for many hours, horses cannot. You should see a nose and then front hooves. If not, there is little use in waiting. Get the front legs up where they belong, protecting the womb from sharp hooves.

[ramiller5675]

Originally Posted by Awnry Abe

Haypoint, did the calf in the attached pic make it?

When do you all jump in and assist when the delivery isn't proceeding at lightning speed?

Like Haypoint's pic? When the eyes/face is cleared? Or when the head is cleared?

I lost one last spring because I didn't know any better. I'm still a little unsure about when the calf is still safe vs. when the clock is ticking.

Try going to the following link about 'Calving Time and Management for Beef Cows and Heifers'

http://pods.dasnr.okstate.edu/docush.../E-1006web.pdf

It explains what you need to know about the calving process, when you need to start thinking about helping that heifer, different presentations, and even how to rotate a pulled calf to avoid hiplock.