Signs of pregnancy in a cow: by month, traditional methods of determination

There are many ways to determine the pregnancy of a cow yourself without any special equipment or laboratory tests. Of course, it is always better to entrust this matter to a professional, but sometimes this is not possible. Moreover, all of the above-mentioned folk methods for determining pregnancy are absolutely safe, so there is no need to worry about possible harm to the health of the animal. On the other hand, they cannot guarantee 100% accuracy of the results.

What is pregnancy

Pregnancy in a cow is the state of pregnancy of an animal that occurs after heat, ovulation and successful artificial or natural insemination. The fertilization period in cattle lasts about a month and does not always bring the desired results - in such cases the cow remains a spring cow, which entails certain problems.

Visually determining the pregnancy of an animal is not so easy, however, this must be done as early as possible, since pregnant animals require special care. They are switched to a different diet, including a complex of vitamin supplements and higher quality food, and the hygiene of the animals themselves and the stall is also carefully monitored. Moreover, each stage of pregnancy in a cow involves a certain set of procedures for caring for the animal, ignoring which can lead to the development of pathologies in the unborn calf. On the other hand, all efforts will be in vain if the cow remains spring after unsuccessful insemination.

This is why it is so important to find out if a cow is pregnant early, preferably in the first month. To facilitate the work of caring for cattle during pregnancy, it is recommended to maintain an individual calendar of pregnancy and calving of cattle.

How to determine if a cow is pregnant at home

There is a whole range of methods that allow you to determine the pregnancy of a first-calf at home. In order to obtain more accurate results, it is recommended to use not just one of them, but several, combining a visual inspection with the study of the animal’s behavior. Additionally, you can carry out simple tests that do not require special laboratory equipment.

The most accurate results are shown by clinical methods for diagnosing pregnancy, however, with the proper experience, you can conduct fairly reliable external studies yourself.

How to determine if a cow is pregnant visually

Determining pregnancy in cows at home solely by external signs is not an easy task, but it is quite possible to do, especially if you additionally observe the behavior of the animal. The following signs indicate that a cow is pregnant:

1. The cow's coat becomes smooth and silky. This is explained by hormonal changes in the animal’s body during pregnancy.
2. In the early stages of pregnancy, dark discharge begins to appear from the genitals. Subsequently, they become more viscous and transparent.
3. Transparent crusts form on the skin in the genital area, remaining after liquid discharge from the vagina.
4. In the first month after fertilization, light bleeding may be seen on the cow’s genitals and the inside of the tail.
5. In the later stages of pregnancy, a cow’s pregnancy becomes obvious even to an inexperienced person who does not work with cattle - the general contour of the abdomen changes in the fertilized animal. The right side of the abdominal cavity is noticeably enlarged.
6. Starting from mid-pregnancy, a pregnant cow's udder gradually enlarges. Towards the end of the period, it becomes more elastic and even hard, which is especially noticeable in primiparous cows.
7. In mid-pregnancy, a pregnant cow's legs and abdominal wall begin to swell.

The cow's behavior also changes after successful fertilization. According to folk signs for a pregnant heifer, pregnant animals become noticeably calmer and more careful, they stop jumping and lifting their tails. Movements generally slow down and gait becomes awkward. The animal tends to separate from the rest of the herd and graze alone, at some distance.At the same time, the appetite of a pregnant cow increases greatly.

For milk

There are two ways to check a cow's pregnancy at home based on the state of her milk:

1. Add a drop of milk to a glass of clean cold water. If it spreads across the surface, it means that the cow remained spring after mating. Completely dissolved milk indicates the animal is pregnant.
2. 5 ml of alcohol is mixed with the same amount of fresh milk. If the cow is pregnant, the milk should curdle.

How to find out if a cow is pregnant at home using a test

You can also determine the pregnancy of a cow using a special rapid test, which gives more accurate results than a variety of folk remedies. You can buy it in specialized livestock stores, which makes diagnosing the animal much easier - you don’t need to call a professional veterinarian for this. The advantages of this method also include its speed - the average research time is only 15-20 minutes.

A rapid test is used on cows, mainly to determine early pregnancy (2-3 weeks). The test is carried out as follows:

1. A special powder is poured into a test tube or a test solution is poured.
2. Then add 10 ml of cow urine to the substance and observe the reaction.
3. If the color of the urine changes and sediment forms at the bottom of the test tube, this means that the cow's fertilization has been successful.

Rectal and manual method for determining pregnancy in cattle

The rectal method for diagnosing pregnancy in cows is more suitable for studying animals in the early stages, but not earlier than one month.Too early diagnostic procedures can cause miscarriage in cattle. It is safest to entrust the pregnancy analysis to a professional veterinarian, but in general, the rectal method can be used independently. The main thing is to take all precautions.

The rectal method involves palpation of the uterus through the wall of the rectum. During the entire process, the assistant must hold the cow by the horns. You can also place the animal in a special cage to limit its movements.

The procedure looks like this:

1. Before starting the examination, your hands must be thoroughly soaped, after which one is inserted into the rectum.
2. Then you need to carefully feel the cervix, which is located at the bottom of the pelvic area. It is quite dense and elongated. Only in the last stages of pregnancy is the cervix located behind the pubic edge of the pelvis.
3. Based on the location of the uterus, other parts of it are found, including the ovaries. In a spring heifer, the body of the uterus is located in the pelvic cavity, and her horns are of the same size. A characteristic groove can be clearly felt between the horns of the uterus. The entire uterus can be taken in the hand, and it reacts to touch with a weak pulsation.
4. In the first month of pregnancy, one uterine horn noticeably increases in size. The ends of the uterine horns move into the abdominal cavity. In the third month of pregnancy, the groove between the horns of the uterus disappears.

The manual method of examination involves palpating the belly of a pregnant cow on the right side.The procedure is carried out according to the following scheme:

1. A fist is brought to the right side of the abdomen and applied to the skin 40-50 cm below the hungry pit. This place is located just behind the costal arch.
2. After this, you need to make several gentle pushes, without applying much force.

In this way, the location of the embryo is determined and the pregnancy of the cow is confirmed. The accuracy of the procedure depends on the timing of the analysis - the study must be organized early in the morning before the cow begins to eat. Otherwise, fetal movements can easily be confused with the work of the gastrointestinal tract through which food moves.

It is also important to remember that a few days before birth, the fetus moves towards the birth canal and is difficult to palpate during this period.

Clinical methods for determining the pregnancy of a cow

Clinical methods for determining the pregnancy of a cow are used starting from the 30th day after mating. Most often, biochemical laboratory testing or ultrasound analysis is used for these purposes.

In the first case, the hormonal composition of the animal’s blood is examined. In this case, it is important to wait at least three months from the moment of the previous pregnancy. Otherwise, the analysis will show the result of the last pregnancy.

Ultrasound equipment to determine pregnancy in a cow can be used no earlier than one month from the beginning of pregnancy. The device can cause a heifer to miscarry.

Signs of pregnancy in a cow by month

The pregnancy of a cow at different stages can be determined by the following signs:

1. In the first month, pregnancy is indicated by bloody and clear vaginal discharge, shiny and smooth fur, as well as calmer behavior. In this case, there is no heat. In the first month, the uterus can be grasped in the hand during a rectal examination; during the procedure, the corpus luteum can be clearly felt.
2. In the second month, the uterus moves to the entrance to the pelvic region. The horn, in which the amniotic sac is located, increases noticeably.
3. In the third month of pregnancy, the horn with the amniotic sac continues to grow. During the examination, you can feel the fetus in the uterus.
4. In the fourth month, the uterus moves into the abdominal cavity, during the examination the location and outline of the fetus is clearly determined, as well as the placenta, which by this time reaches 2-3 cm. The blood vessels clearly pulsate.
5. In the fifth month of pregnancy, the cervix noticeably enlarges, occupying most of the abdominal cavity. The placenta also grows, reaching 4-5 cm. The abdomen visually increases in size, the udder is filled with milk.
6. In the sixth month, the uterus descends into the peritoneum, and at this stage of pregnancy it is already difficult to palpate the fetus.
7. During the eighth month of pregnancy, various parts of the calf can be felt during palpation. The uterus is located in the pelvic region.
8. In the ninth month, obvious swelling of the udder becomes visually noticeable. The lower wall of the abdomen also swells. The size of the placenta is 8 cm. The fetus moves to the pelvic region.

Conclusion

In order to unambiguously determine the pregnancy of a cow, folk signs may not be enough.It is important to take into account all the signs of pregnancy in cattle: changes in the animal’s behavior, the appearance of the coat, the contour of the abdomen, etc. If it is difficult to visually determine the cow’s pregnancy, you can always conduct a home test on the animal’s milk or urine. If this does not help, then they move on to more thorough research methods - rectal and manual. It is recommended that these procedures be carried out by specialists, however, if you are careful, you can do everything yourself.

It is very important to check the cow for pregnancy as early as possible. This will allow you to prepare in advance for the animal’s pregnancy and take all measures to ensure that the cow feels as comfortable as possible during this period and does not become exhausted after pregnancy.

You can learn more about how to determine if a cow is pregnant at home from the video below:

Recommended Posts

Kholmogory cow breed: features of maintenance and breeding

Actinomycosis in cows

Can bulls differentiate colors?

Lice on cattle

Gangrene of the udder

Production of milk in a cow

Salt poisoning in cattle: symptoms and treatment

What to do if calves are vilified: drugs and folk remedies

Why does a calf chew boards?