How long after calving

Cows that are not well-fed during pregnancy take longer to start cycling again after calving than cows that are well fed. Ideally cows should calve in medium body condition, preferably in condition score 2.

For good fertility and milk production, first calvers in particular must be well fed after calving. Simply providing an abundance of good quality pasture may be adequate in some years. Some producers draft off freshly calved young cows each week, and drift them into a better paddock. In an autumn-calving herd, for example, this could be an 'autumn-saved' paddock.

In most districts of Victoria, however, young cows calving in autumn usually require a high-quality supplement after calving. Early or mid-season cut clover hay, early cut oaten hay and lucerne hay are suitable, but hay of lower quality is of little use. If good quality hay is not available, cereal grains or pellets may have to be fed.

Feeding should begin immediately after calving because cattle may take a while to adjust to the ration. Young cows calving in autumn are particularly vulnerable to severe worm infestations. The stress of calving may precipitate the release of large numbers of 'inhibited' worm larvae from the walls of the gut.

If needed, an effective drench should be given before calving. Heifers must be observed frequently, but disturbed as little as possible. Supervising your heifers during calving Heifers should be observed at least twice daily, more often if practical. Giving assistance to heifers during birth The calf should normally be born within two hours of the appearance of the water bag.

Calling in the vet A vet should be called if: a heifer is found to have difficulty calving the birth appears to be breech the heifer's condition has become weak. Post difficult birth After a difficult birth, young cows in particular often desert their calves. Management after calving Once they have calved successfully young cows are required to produce a good supply of milk and become pregnant again soon after. Milk production The main factor determining how well calves grow is the amount of milk their mothers produce.

Fertility of cows after calving Cows must be well fed after calving. Feeding young cows after calving For good fertility and milk production, first calvers in particular must be well fed after calving. Worm control Young cows calving in autumn are particularly vulnerable to severe worm infestations. This day breeding period is the window of opportunity for the whole year.

The goal of all herd management during the year is to have cows and heifers that are receptive to breeding during this day period. This is why cows that calve early are the most fertile and profitable individuals in the herd, whereas late calvers are the least fertile and profitable Table 1. Because delivering a calf is a physiologically stressful process, cows and heifers do not have estrous cycles for a period of time after calving. This is known as the postpartum anestrous period. The internal reproductive organs require an absolute minimum of 35 days to repair themselves so that 1 the uterus is capable of maintaining a new pregnancy and 2 estrous cyclicity will commence.

In reality, this postpartum anestrous period is closer to 45 to 50 days for most cows. It is greatly influenced by the prepartum nutrition and body condition of the dam at the time of calving. The postpartum anestrous period may extend to 3 or 4 months— or more—for cows that calve in extremely poor body condition.

Obviously, this would make a month calving interval impossible to achieve. Cows that calve in good body condition, and do so early in the calving season, have the best chance of resuming estrous cyclicity before the breeding season begins i. Even in herds with day calving seasons, late calvers are still at a relative disadvantage.

Early calvers have the best chance of re-breeding because 1 they have more time to recover and 2 they have potentially more estrus periods—or opportunities to breed. Note that with the day example shown, cows calving in the fourth day period will not be calved out even after the breeding season has begun.

Calves born late in the calving season have lighter weaning weights because they are younger and smaller at weaning. Shortening the calving season greatly reduces age variability and makes calf crops more uniform. This is shown in both Table 2 and Figure 3. Most cows lose some weight during calving and lactation. Animals without adequate fat cover will still provide milk, but they may not re-breed, especially if they are in poor body condition and are late calvers as well. There- fore, one of the most critical things a manager can do is to ensure that cows calve in a BCS of at least 5 or 6 and that weight loss after calving is not dramatic.

Managers should evaluate cattle for body condition score 2 to 4 months before the calving season begins. Then there will be time to determine the type and quantity of supplemental feed needed and time for the cattle to respond to supplementation with improved body condition. Supplementing cows to obtain body condition scores higher than 6 is not usually desirable, either from an economic or physiological standpoint, although if they achieve higher levels of condition from a high-quality forage diet, fertility usually is not reduced.

BCS , late calver……….. BCS 4, early calver………… moderate risk,depending on nutrition level postpartum. BCS 1, 2, 3……………………. Nutrient requirements vary widely throughout the year. For example, at lactation, protein requirements are double what they were earlier in the year. The challenge is that nutrients, either from forage or supplement, are delivered to a herd and not to individual animals.

In other words, all cows in the pasture get the same op portunity to consume feed and forage and all are fed in the same way. Supplementation is much more effective in herds with managed calving seasons because all animals are at or near a similar stage of production and have very similar nutrient requirements. Thus, supplemental feed can be accurately and effectively delivered. Managed calving seasons make it easier to time the breeding period, when nutrient requirements are greatest, to coincide with the period of best seasonal forage quality.

For example, if March, April and May are the months when green, growing forage is most likely to be available, then the breeding season should coincide with those months.

That means calving should occur in December, January and February. Lactic acid and carbon dioxide levels remain quite high. These calves are depressed, they do not sit up well, they do not shake their heads and ears, and if weather is cold they do not shiver to warm themselves.

Shivering increases metabolism, which increases heat. These calves have poor metabolism to begin with and their body temperature consequently drops. Even those that first appeared to breath and sit up normally soon become depressed, are slow to rise, and are slow to nurse.

Many do not nurse without assistance and die within 12 to 24 hours. Even those that do nurse, may nurse too late for good antibody absorption. In summary, the effect of dystocia is not just dead calves and injured heifers, but also weak and sick calves. In addition to being the greatest cause of baby calf mortality, calving difficulty markedly reduces reproductive performance during the next breeding season. Results from a Montana study Doornbos, et al.

In this study heifers were either assisted when the fetal membranes water bag appeared Early or were allowed to progress normally and assisted only if calving was not completed within two hours of the appearance of the water bag Late. Prolonged deliveries of baby calves in excess of one to one and a half hours often result in weakened calves and reduced rebreeding performance in young cows.

Figure 2. Impact of early or late assistance in subsequent rebreeding performance of first calf heifers. Doornbos, et al. As the calving season approaches, the cows will show typical signs that will indicate parturition is imminent. Changes that are gradually seen are udder development or making bag and the relaxation and swelling of the vulva or springing. These indicate the cow is due to calve in the near future. There is much difference between individuals in the development of these signs and certainly age is a factor.

The first calf heifer, particularly in the milking breeds, develops udder for a very long time, sometimes for two or three months before parturition. The springing can be highly variable too. Most people notice that Brahman influence cattle seem to spring much more than does a Holstein. Typically, in the immediate two weeks preceding calving, springing becomes more evident, the udder is filling, and one of the things that might be seen is the loss of the cervical plug.

This is a very thick tenacious, mucous material hanging from the vulva. It may be seen pooling behind the cow when she is lying down.

Some people mistakenly think this happens immediately before calving, but in fact this can be seen weeks before parturition and therefore is only another sign that the calving season is here. The immediate signs that usually occur within 24 hours of calving would be relaxation of the pelvic ligaments and strutting of the teats. These can be fairly dependable for the owner that watches his cows several times a day during the calving season.

The casual observer or even the veterinarian who is knowledgeable of the signs but sees the herd infrequently cannot accurately predict calving time from these signs. The relaxation of the pelvic ligaments really cannot be observed in fat cows body condition score 7 or greater. However, relaxations of the ligaments can be seen very clearly in thin or moderate body condition cows and can be a sign of impending parturition within the next 12 to 24 hours.

These changes are signs the producer or herdsman can use to more closely pinpoint calving time. Strutting of the teats is not really very dependable. Some heavy milking cows will have strutting of the teats as much as two or three days before calving and on the other hand, a thin poor milking cow may calve without strutting of the teats. Another thing that might be seen in the immediate 12 hours before calving would be variable behavior such as a cow that does not come up to eat or a cow that isolates herself into a particular corner of the pasture.

However, most of them have few behavioral changes until the parturition process starts. It is important to know with complete confidence exactly when and how long to leave the cow and when to seek help.

An issue facing the rancher at calving time is the amount of time heifers or cows are allowed to be in labor before assistance is given. Traditional textbooks, fact sheets, and magazine articles state that stage 2 of labor lasted from two to four hours. Stage 2 is defined as that portion of the birthing process from the first appearance of the water bag until the baby calf is delivered. Data from Oklahoma State University and the USDA experiment station at Miles City, Montana, clearly show that stage 2 is much shorter, lasting approximately 60 minutes in first calf heifers and 30 minutes in mature cows Table 1.

In these studies, heifers that were in stage 2 labor much more than one hour or cows that were in stage 2 much more than 30 minutes definitely needed assistance. Research information also shows that calves from prolonged deliveries are weaker and more disease prone, even if born alive. In addition, cows or heifers with prolonged deliveries return to heat later and are less likely to be bred for the next calf crop.

Consequently a good rule of thumb: If the heifer is not making significant progress one hour after the water bag or feet appear, examine the heifer to see if you can provide assistance. Mature cows should be watched for only 30 minutes before a vaginal examine is conducted. If you cannot safely deliver the calf yourself at this time, call your local veterinarian immediately. Most ranches develop heifers fully and use calving ease bulls to prevent calving difficulties.

However, a few difficult births are going to occur each calving season. Using the concept of evening feeding to get more heifers calving in daylight and giving assistance early will save a few more calves. This results in healthier more productive two-year cows to rebreed next year. If nothing is showing after a period of intensive straining of second-stage labor — a period of approximately 30 minutes in a cow and 60 minutes in a heifer — then examine her to determine if presentation is normal.

Wash the vulva, anus, and the area in between using soap and warm water. Using a disposable sleeve shoulder length and a good lubricant usually available from your veterinarian , insert your hand slowly and do not rupture the waterbag. To properly use obstetrical chains when assisting with a difficult birth, follow the example in Figure 4.

To attach the chain, loop it around the thin part of the leg above the fetlock. Then, make a half hitch and tighten it below the joint and above the foot. Make certain that the chain is positioned in such a manner that it goes over the top of the toes. It is very important at all times to exert pressure only when the animal strains and to relax completely when the patient relaxes.

The old idea of maintaining a steady pressure during assistance is wrong, unless the cow has already given up and no assistance is coming from her. Excessive or improper pressure often causes injuries to the dam such as vaginal tears, uterine rupture, paralysis, or uterine prolapse. All can usually be prevented but when they occur they need the immediate attention of your veterinarian.

Vaginal tears generally heal with proper antibiotic therapy. Uterine rupture usually results in death. Some animals will recover from calving paralysis but may require prolonged care and may not breed again. Pulling on a calf should only be done when the presentation and posture of the calf are normal. This applies both to an anterior position Figure 1 and a posterior position Figure 3.

Excess force should never be used in pulling a calf. In most cases, no more than two men should be allowed to pull and then only when the cow strains. Lubricant and patience will often solve the tightest case.

Use extreme caution if a mechanical puller is being used. Figure 4. Place loop above and halfhitch below fetlock joint. Connecting chain should be on the top of the leg. The first step is to examine the cow to check calf position and determine if assistance is necessary. It is generally easier to correct any abnormal presentation if the cow is standing.

If a cow or heifer will not get up, she should be so placed that she is not lying directly on the part of the calf which has to be adjusted. This provides more room in the uterus for manipulation. Once the calf is in a correct anterior or posterior position, delivery will be easier if the cow is lying down. To do this start by feeling the fetlock and moving the hand up the limb. In the hindlimb the next joint is the hock with the prominent point.

In the forelimb there is also a prominent point, the point of the elbow, but before this is reached one can feel the knee joint, which is flat and has no prominences. The calf may be alive or dead.

Sometimes movements can be detected in a live calf by placing the fingers in the mouth, seizing the tongue, or touching the eyelids. If the genital passage of the cow is dry or if the calf itself is dry, plenty of lubricant should be used. Attempts to repel push back the calf should be made between labor pains. Similarly, attempts to deliver the calf by traction will be a lot easier if they are made to coincide with the contractions of the cow.

An anterior presentation is forefeet first, head resting on the limbs, and the eyes level with the knees Figure 1. As stated above, in this presentation the cow does not usually require assistance, unless it is a heifer at first calving, the calf is dead, or the calf is too big for the cow.

If the calf is dead, tie a chain around the head behind the ears and pass it through the mouth. This will prevent the head from twisting when the limbs are being pulled. With a live calf you can do this by placing a hand on the head and ensuring that the head is kept straight.

Traction should not be exerted simultaneously on the head and limbs until the head enters the pelvis.