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The pregnancy period has a fairly wide range, however, if a cow calves before the 240th day, we are talking about premature calving. Early labor can result in the birth of either a viable calf or a weak or dead calf.
Can a cow calve early?
The pregnancy period of a cow lasts on average 285 days. The appearance of a calf before the due date, but not earlier than on the 240th day of pregnancy, is not a pathology. The gestation period largely depends on the conditions of keeping and feeding, the precocity of the animal, the sex and weight of the fetus.
If signs of labor appear in a cow earlier than the 240th day of pregnancy, then the birth is considered premature and requires immediate action and the intervention of a veterinarian.
Causes of premature calving in cows
Causes of premature calving:
- abdominal wall injuries resulting from a fall, blow, sudden movements or jumps;
- careless rectal or vaginal examination;
- feeding the animal low-quality, moldy, frozen food;
- feeding a pregnant cow too cold water with a temperature below +10-12°C;
- non-compliance with the temperature regime in the room;
- the use of drugs that caused uterine contractions;
- infectious diseases;
- stress or severe fear of the animal.
Also, premature birth is often observed during multiple pregnancies and when carrying a large fetus.
Precursors of early calving in a cow
Precursors of early calving, as a rule, are absent. Premature contractions during premature labor in cows may appear 3-4 weeks before the onset of labor. Attempts and contractions can last from several hours to 3 days. In this case, the animal’s pelvic ligaments do not relax, and the cervix does not open.
Premature labor usually begins unexpectedly and rapidly. Contractions during early pathological labor are very painful and frequent. Prolonged contractions are exhausting, deprive the animal of strength and can result in abortion.
Signs of premature calving:
- change in behavior, anxiety of the animal;
- refusal of food;
- increased body temperature;
- increased heart rate and breathing;
- contraction of the abdominal muscles;
- sometimes there is a slight dilatation of the cervix;
- Rectal examination reveals successive contractions and relaxations of the uterus.
To reduce the intensity of pushing, it is necessary to place the animal in a dark, warm room with a sloping floor. You can also carefully guide the animal for a short time without sudden movements.A warm compress should be placed on the sacrum and lower back of a pregnant animal - bags of warm sand; you can also make hot poultices from hay dust or straw.
If labor does not stop, the veterinarian performs sacral epidural anesthesia between the last sacral and first caudal vertebrae (or between the first and second caudal vertebrae), injecting a 1% solution of novocaine in a dosage of 10-20 ml. You can also use intramuscular administration of the drug “Hanegif”, as a uterine relaxant, in a dosage of 10 ml.
What to do if a cow calves prematurely
If signs of early calving appear, namely changes in the physiological state and behavior of the animal, you should first seek the help of a veterinarian. It is necessary to provide special conditions for favorable calving or the further course of pregnancy (if signs appeared in the early stages of pregnancy).
Calving early results in the birth of a weak calf with little chance of survival. If there are no pathological changes in the body of a premature calf, a sucking reflex is present, and the entire surface of the body is covered with hair, then there is a chance for the calf to emerge. A newborn animal should be dried, wrapped in a warm blanket, covered with heating pads and placed in a warm room with a temperature of at least +25-30°C. Often in animals after calving prematurely or abortions with expulsion of the premature baby, there is a lack of colostrum. In this case, the calf urgently needs to look for a wet nurse or transfer to artificial feeding.
What are the dangers of a cow calving prematurely?
Calving before the minimum period is considered a pathology.The result of premature birth can be either the birth of a premature weak calf or the death of the fetus from asphyxia, followed by maceration (liquefaction of the soft tissues of the fetus, swelling), and then mummification (drying and calcification of the fetus) and putrefactive decomposition (emphysematous fetus).
In case of multiple pregnancy, premature contractions and pushing ahead of time can lead to the expulsion of one fetus - a miscarriage or premature birth. With an incomplete abortion, often the second fetus continues to develop normally in the womb and is born at the scheduled time. In this case, careful monitoring of the course of pregnancy and the development of the second fetus is required, since often during pathological births the placental connection is disrupted and the pregnancy ends in abortion.
Pregnant animals, especially heifers, need daily monitoring. If the first heifer calves prematurely, it is necessary to find out the reason for this phenomenon, since often subsequent periods of pregnancy in such cows also end in premature birth. In order to exclude the cause of premature birth 60 days before the expected calving date, it is necessary to isolate pregnant animals in a separate room, ensure proper feeding and care. To eliminate the possibility of injury, it is necessary to keep the animal on a leash, not forgetting about daily exercise for 2-3 hours a day.
Conclusion
If a cow calves prematurely, the owner must take a set of measures to care for the premature calf and monitor the health of its mother. Early calving in cows occurs for various reasons, most often as a result of injury, improper maintenance or feeding of low-quality feed.
How to find out at home whether a cow is pregnant or not?