How to Prepare for Calving Twins

Calving season is one of the busiest times for cattle ranchers. Mature cows come into season during the warm summer months, and carry calves for approximately nine months, giving birth in early spring. Cows most often give birth to single calves, but twins are not unheard of in many breeds. Delivering twins takes a bit of extra work, but a pair of healthy calves is worth every drop of sweat.

Things You'll Need

  • Rake
  • Clean straw
  • Bleach
  • Bucket
  • Water
  • Scrub brush
  • Clean hay
  • Iodine wash
  • Elbow-length rubber gloves
  • Towels
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Instructions

    • 1

      Clean your calving stall. Rake out old bedding and feces, and scrub walls with 1 cup of bleach diluted in 1 gallon of hot water. Open the stall doors and let the walls air dry, then bed the stall with a layer of clean straw. The straw cushions the floor for the newborn calves and simplifies post-calving clean up.

    • 2

      Move the cow into the stall a week before her due date. Feed her as much clean hay as she will eat, and remove feces and wet straw daily. Feed the cow as much clean hay as she will eat so she has plenty of strength for the impending birth. Keep the water trough full so she stays well-hydrated, as calving often causes severe sweating. Spend a few minutes with the cow each day so she is familiar with you and won't be startled when you enter the stall to assist in delivery.

    • 3

      Watch the cow closely for calving clues. Her udders will fill with milk, and a clear, waxy film will coat her nipples. The muscles around her tail will also droop and the calves move down into the birth canal. The cow may refuse food, lay down and roll from her belly to her side in an attempt to reposition the calves for birth.

    • 4

      Scrub your hands and arms with iodine wash, and rinse well before putting on a pair of elbow-length rubber gloves. Approach the cow, petting her back and hindquarters gently as you approach her tail. Lift the tail to the side, and wait patiently as she pushes the first calf out. Its front feet will appear first, with the head resting on top of the legs. If the cow is distressed or having trouble pushing, grab the front legs just above the hooves and apply steady, downward pressure to gently pull the first calf out.

    • 5

      Move the calf to one side, and let the cow investigate. She will lick the calf and break the membrane over the nose to facilitate breathing. If she is too tired or uninterested, pull the membrane off with your fingers, and massage the calf's sides and chest with a towel to dry it off and stimulate natural breathing.

    • 6

      Pull the second calf out as directed in step 4. Many cows will be too exhausted to push, so you may have to pull a bit longer on the final calf to free it from the birth canal. Clean the calf up with a towel, and watch quietly as the cow gets to know her newborn twin calves.