What to Do When a Cow Is Having a Calf?

Cows give birth and suckle live young like other mammals, usually one calf at a time although twin births occasionally occur. A healthy cow with good nutrition in pregnancy can usually birth her calf on her own with minimal assistance. It is important to observe and understand the normal process of bovine birth to assess the labor, allow natural progress and identify an emergency that requires professional intervention.

  1. Early Labor

    • A cow in labor usually exhibits early signs by separating from the herd, acting uneasy and changing position from lying to standing several times. The contractions of the cow's uterus during this stage function to position the calf for entry to the birth canal, rupture the sac of waters and dilate the cow's cervix to its widest opening. This stage may take from two to six hours.

    Birth

    • Birth of the calf is imminent when its hooves and head enter the birth canal, triggering the pushing reflexes of the cow. She will often lie down on her side to get into a comfortable, effective position for pushing.

      If the sac is not ruptured, you will see it in the birth canal ahead of the calf. Do not attempt to break the waters prematurely---the labor may not be far enough along and bacteria can enter the uterus. If you see hooves, the sac has ruptured and the calf may be most visible during a contraction, receding back a bit into the uterus in between contractions. Note if the hooves point downward. Hooves pointing upwards indicate the calf's position to be reversed and will require assistance to be born. The head of the calf should be resting on top of the legs, in a "diving" position.

      As the cow pushes her calf out and the umbilical cord breaks, it will begin to take breaths before emerging fully. Clean away any dung from the calf's mouth and nose and pull the sac away from his head. Massage the calf's head and chest if he struggles to breathe. Once the mother has birthed the rest of the calf, she will get up, turn around and start to lick her calf clean. Encourage the calf to stand and nurse---the cow's colostrum helps it recover quickly from the rigors of birth. The placenta will be expelled about two hours later.

    Difficult Birth

    • Complications in delivery, called dystocia, can impede the birth of the calf and endanger both cow and calf. If you don't see the mouth of the calf in the birth canal once the legs are visible, the calf may be in a backwards position. If the calf is backwards, the hooves point upwards or the calf has not made obvious progress into the birth canal within a half hour of the start of pushing contractions, advise your veterinarian right away.

      Common tools used by ranchers and veterinarians to assist difficult births are ropes, chains and the calf puller, a tool used in assisting in difficult labor. Observing the proper restraint and technique with these tools can make the difference in delivering a live calf.