Assisting With Calving

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The following is an outline of the typical steps involved in assisting in a calving. Obviously, the specifics vary calving to calving, but the pattern of activities remains the same.

1. Get a history : How old is the cow? When was her due date? How long has she been trying to calve? What has anyone done to try to assist before you arrived? Do they know what is wrong (for a dystocia)? Have any drugs been given? Anything else you need to know?
2. Restrain the cow: As tempting as it may be to rush in, a little effort and thought now pays big dividends. If the cow is standing or might get up, put a halter on her and tie her to some immovable object. Tie her head low, not high. Expect that she will lie / fall down during calving. Make sure that when she does her vulva is not in some tight corner. If possible, arrange for clean bedding and a clean place to do your work.
3. Look at the whole cow . Make sure that she doesn't have milk fever. Does she look dehydrated? Assess whether to proceed with the calving or address urgent issues of life support for the cow. Again, if she is standing, now is a good time for a quick check of her udder / milk for mastitis. It is easier than after the calving when she is lying on her udder.
4. Hygiene: This is critically important. Tie the tail out of the way if possible. If it is docked and can't be tied out of the way, wash it. Wash a wide area of the perineum with water and disinfectant soap. If the cow defecates, clean her again. Wash your hands and arms thoroughly or use fresh rectal sleeves.
5. Lubrication: Also critical. If in any doubt, use more lube. Using enough lubrication makes the calving easier, reduces trauma to the cow, and reduces your effort and exhaustion.
6. Dilation: Particularly in heifers, taking a little extra time to work to dilate the vulva is well worth it. It greatly reduces tears and trauma to the cow and eases delivery. Pass both hands and forearms into the vulva and pry them apart to stretch the area. Again, make sure there is lots of lubrication.
7. Diagnosis: Don't forget this step. It is tempting to reach for a strap or chain and "get to work". Resist the temptation and take the time to do a thorough check to be sure things are lined up properly (for a proper presentation but slow delivery) or to accurately assess the situation (for a true dystocia). Remember to trace the reachable leg to the body, if possible, and come from the body back down to the end of the other leg. This avoids the error of pulling on two legs belonging to two different calves. If possible, try to tell if the calf is alive. This will partly shape the choice of action.
8. Plan: This may only take a second, but a little thought is in order here. How will you correct the improper presentation? What tools will you need? Will the calf fit through the heifer's small pelvis? Is a caesarian or fetotomy the proper next step? If your plan doesn't work, what are the alternatives?
9. Mutation ( re-positioning ): Many think this is all that assisting with calving is about. It fills textbooks and veterinary war stories, but if you rush here without doing the preceding steps you'll get into trouble sooner or later. Fundamentally, all mutations are the same. If you remember this you won't be tempted to try something strange (and useless) when you are doing the right thing and it is just turning out to be hard.
1. repel the proximal portion
2. move the middle portion laterally
3. move the distal portion medially
1. for example: correcting a head that is turned back
1. the neck has to go back into the cow
2. the poll of the head has to go laterally (toward the side)
3. the nose has to move medially (typically downward and toward the midline)
10. Extraction: gently, lubrication, dilation!! No more than two people pulling. If using a calf puller, remember that you can generate a great deal of force. Be careful and compassionate. Use the crank to take up slack, not pull the calf. Let the pulling force be from leveraging the puller's pole downwards. There is better control of force this way and the direction of pull is better.
11. After care of the calf: since the cow is less likely to die immediately, focus on getting the calf breathing and stable.
12. After care of the cow: Once again, look the cow over, particularly for milk fever, tears, etc. and treat appropriately