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When a cow attempts to have a calf and it is breech and the cow needs assistance what do i do?
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Breeches can be quite difficult to correct, so you will have to call your vet to get the calf out for you. Often calves that are backwards or in breech have a less chance of survival than calves that are coming the normally but have a foot or leg back or locked hips. You NEED TO WORK FAST TO SAVE THE CALF. That is VERY important if you want to save him/her.
What you need to do is, if the vet can't come within 10 to 20 minutes, is reach in and push the calf back as far as possible. Then grab the hock of the back leg and bring it up, then reach down, cup your hand around the foot, and bring the foot into the birth canal. Repeat with the other foot. Quickly put some calving chains or rope on the calf's legs (half hitch at the fetlock joint and another half hitch just above the hock), and pull with the calf puller or with someone helping you. Don't pull the calf like you would if it were normal position, you have to pull so that you get the calf out FAST: disregard waiting until the cow pushes again, you HAVE to keep pulling no matter what to get that calf out NOW. But still pull the calf out and down toward the cow's hocks to keep in line with the birth canal.
If the calf's not breathing, get a suction bulb and get as much fluid out of his nose as possible. Then tickle his nose with a clean piece of straw. If that don't work, jack him up on his hind legs and swing him for a couple seconds. If that still won't work, you can either slap him over the ribs to get him jump-started breathing. If that still won't work, you'll have to perform artificial respiration on him.
To do that, clamp his jaw and one nostril shut firmly in both hands, then blow gently but evenly into his one nostril (your mouth cupping over the nostril), keeping watch on his rib cage. Rest to let the air out on its own, then breath in again. Keep doing this until the calf is breathing on its own, or until you give up. You can usually feel a heart-beat through the chest if you place your hand over the ribs just behind his elbow.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
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How soon after birth does a calf need to be registered?
A calf only needs to be registered if it is a purebred or fullblood calf born of a dam and/or sire that are also registered to a breed registry. Otherwise, don't worry about it. When a calf needs to be registered depends on the rulings of the particular breed registry you are registering the calf to.
What special heath needs does a calf have?
One special health need a calf has at birth is the mothers milk. If it is not available, the calf will need colostrum.
How long is a cows labor if the calf is breech and the feet are out?
It'll go a lot quicker if you get in there and pull the calf out as fast as possible. Backwards calves, in most cases if you see it happening, should be pulled ASAP. Don't wait for the cow to do it, because it the calf has no space to breath if the cow decides to stop pushing and take a rest. You MUST get that calf out immediately so it can live and breath, otherwise you will end up with a stillborn calf on your hands.
Why do cowboys help cows birth?
Because there's always going to be a cow that has a calf that isn't presenting normally and needs to be pulled, or a cow that has a calf that is too big to be birthed naturally and needs to be taken out surgically.
What do you do for a enlarge navel in a calf?
The navel may be infected (called navel ill), or the calf may have a hernia, something which needs to be seen by the vet to be fixed.
Which needs caring for the longest calf or a puppy or a human baby?
human baby
Can a bull with one nut make a calf?
Yes, no problem. He needs a cow to do that.
What if you see a leg hanging out the birth canal of a cow?
Then that calf (and the cow) is in a lot of trouble, and you need to assist that cow right away. The calf needs to be pushed back in in order to get the other leg into the birth canal. The head is probably turned back as well (if the calf is coming front-first), and also needs to be straightened out before you pull out the calf. Of course, pushing a calf back into the uterus is easier said than done!
How many pints of milk does a calf need a day?
A calf needs around 2 to 2.5 quarts or 4 to 5 pints of milk per day.
What should you feed your newborn calf?
If you can try to feed it mostly milk. It needs to get healthy.
How do you know if the cow is having a problem calving?
It depends, really. Often if you don't see a cow making any progress an hour or two after the water sac has appeared you will need to go in to help her. If you see the hooves of the calf in the wrong position, only one hoof, only a head, only a tail, or nothing at all, then you have to go in to see if she needs assistance or not. Most cases can be corrected if you know the proper procedures of doing so, but if you find the cow has too big a calf or the calf is in a difficult position that you cannot correct, then you need to call the vet immediately if you want to save the calf and the cow.
What do you do for swelling in a calf's knee?
Check with a veterinarian. It could be joint ill or an abscess that needs to be treated.
