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After a cow has calved, the animal's recovery process takes about 14 days. At this time she requires specific care. It should also be taken into account that calving does not always occur without problems. In the next month, it is better to carefully monitor the animal’s condition. The milking procedure will take a total of about 3 months. Therefore, it cannot be said that after calving all the troubles end.
Features of the cow's condition after calving
Calving is a physiological process and normally does not require human attention. Intervention is necessary only in case of complications. After the calf is born, the cow must lick it. This starts the milk production process, and the newborn receives a stimulating massage.
After calving, until the placenta comes out, the cow will go through contractions. She needs to expel the placenta. The uterus will be swollen for some time after the end of the process, but then it will return to normal.
Within 2 weeks after calving, the cow will produce lochia. At first, the mucus is brown in color, with dried blood, gradually they will become lighter until transparent.If the lochia liquefies somewhat and becomes an even brown color, the cow has postpartum complications.
The udder swelling will also subside after 2 weeks. The softened pelvic ligaments will also take about 14 days to recover. In general, within half a month the cow should return to a normal physiological state.
Usually the calf is not left under the cow, but sometimes this can be a way to eliminate postpartum problems
What to do after a cow calving
Half an hour after the placenta comes out, the cow is given sweetened or salted water. You can drink amniotic fluid. In veterinary pharmacies today you can find special electrolytes for cows after calving.
Hay is a dry product and can be placed in the feeder in advance. The cow will eat when she wants.
After the placenta is delivered, the integrity of the placenta is checked. Next, they clean out all the dirty litter, which is destroyed along with biowaste. The stall is lined with fresh straw. The latter is more convenient to use, since it will not harm the cow when eaten and allows liquid to pass down well.
You need to milk a cow for the first time 30-40 minutes after calving. The skin of the udder is first cleaned of physiological fluids. The resulting colostrum is immediately fed to the calf.
After the placenta is released, the entire rear part of the cow is washed: the genitals, udder, hind legs and tail. It's a good idea to brush the entire cow.
This is what the placenta looks like after calving
How to care for a cow after calving
The calving cow must be monitored. The development of some pathological processes takes several days.It is necessary to monitor the dynamics of the animal’s recovery.
Particular attention is paid to the udder. It is lubricated daily with moisturizing cream or ointment to restore tissue elasticity. Before milking, the mammary gland is washed with warm water. After milking, the nipples are lubricated with ointment. Follow the milking schedule and gradually milk the animal.
Feeding rules
On the first day after calving, the cow is given only water and high-quality hay. Sometimes you can mix dried grass with hay. For 3 days, in addition to hay, 1-1.5 kg of concentrates are also fed:
- wheat bran;
- oatmeal;
- sunflower meal;
- compound feed.
All concentrates are given in the form of a mash.
From the 4th day after calving, succulent feed is gradually introduced. By the 12th day she is switched to a full diet.
Feeding rates depend on several factors:
- cow fatness;
- milk yield;
- fat content of milk;
- lactation time.
The more milk an animal produces, the more feed it requires. In percentage terms, the diet structure looks like this:
- hay – 20-25;
- succulent feed – 40-50;
- concentrates – 30-35.
On average, per 100 kg of weight a cow needs 2 kg of hay and 8 kg of succulent feed. Concentrates are given taking into account milk yield: 100-400 g for each liter of milk.
The frequency of feeding depends on productivity. Low-yielding animals, producing 4,000 thousand kg per year, are fed 2 times a day at the beginning and end of lactation. High-yielding and new-calving animals - 3-4 times a day. Feed is given immediately after milking in a certain sequence: concentrates - juicy - coarse.
High-quality hay during the dry period is an important factor contributing to successful calving.
Milking and further milking
The lactation period includes 4 phases:
- calving and recovery – 2-3 weeks;
- milking period - 2-3 months;
- peak/peak – before the beginning of the 6th month of a new pregnancy;
- launch.
If the calf is taken away immediately after calving, the cow begins to be milked 4-6 times a day from the first day. Frequent milking with udder massage also helps relieve swelling. The procedure is carried out strictly at certain hours and at regular intervals. Therefore, it is better to stop at 4 or 6 times milking. High-yielding cows are milked more often than low-yielding cows. When the udder is full, spontaneous milk release may begin.
The milking phase begins after the animals are switched to a full diet. It is carried out in order to find out the maximum productivity of a new calving cow. For this purpose, the “advance method” is used. That is, depending on the productivity of a particular animal, 1-3 feeds are added to its diet. units Increase feed until the cow stops “responding” with an increase in milk yield.
During this phase, highly productive cows are milked 3-4 times a day. Low-yielding animals - no more than 3. Animals “reach” the peak of lactation approximately in the 3rd month after calving. Milking twice a day is acceptable if the cow produces no more than 10 liters of milk per day.
Possible difficulties
In the case of a successful calving, only two problems can arise: udder swelling and mastitis due to too high productivity.The first often goes away on its own, but the animal can also be helped. To do this, during each milking, the udder is massaged using softening ointments.
With high productivity and insufficient milking frequency, the cow may develop mastitis. In this case, its appearance provokes spontaneous leakage of milk. The udder becomes rough and inflamed.
If the hotel is unfavorable, there are a few more options:
- retention of placenta;
- uterine prolapse;
- postpartum paresis;
- subinvolution of the uterus;
- postpartum sepsis;
- birth canal injuries.
The first 4 diseases are almost always a direct consequence of violations of housing and feeding conditions.
Placenta retention
The maximum interval between calving and the release of the placenta in a cow is 6 hours. After this time has elapsed, the placenta is considered delayed. The causes of the disease are uterine atony, swelling of the chorionic villi or inflammatory hyperemia. Predisposing factors are errors in housing and feeding conditions, as well as trauma to the birth canal.
The delay of the placenta can be:
- full;
- incomplete;
- partial.
The type of disease is determined based on vaginal and general examinations, as well as anamnesis. If the placenta is retained for more than 6 hours after calving, a veterinarian must be contacted.
Sometimes, as a result of unsuccessful calving, the placenta has to be removed manually
Uterine prolapse
Occurs in case of difficult calving, trauma or dryness of the birth canal or delayed fetal release. Provoking factors:
- improper diet;
- obesity;
- overstretching of the uterus;
- very large fruit.
The prognosis depends on how long the uterus is outside the cow and the degree of damage to the mucous membrane. When exposed to air, the organ swells very quickly.The mucous membrane is damaged by the walls of the stall, the floor and other surrounding objects. The more damage, the worse the prognosis.
All possible factors leading to sepsis after calving: prolapsed uterus, dirty bedding and sharp glands
Postpartum paresis
Externally, it is characterized by the fact that the cow cannot stand on her feet after calving. Limbs lose sensation. Signs of paralysis of the gastrointestinal tract and other internal organs appear later. Usually occurs in highly productive cows 2-3 days after calving. It is believed that the provoking factor is the concentrated type of feeding these days.
Subinvolution of the uterus
Involution is the return of an organ to its previous size. Subinvolution is a slowdown in the restoration of the previous size of an organ.
Delayed uterine involution after calving occurs due to the lack of active exercise during pregnancy and an inadequate diet. Often accompanied by dysfunction of internal organs.
During subinvolution, the following is observed in a cow:
- uterine atony;
- retention of lochia or their release in small portions;
- 4 or more days after calving, discharge of brown liquid lochia;
- increasing the period of lochia secretion.
Due to intoxication of the body by decay products of rotting lochia, the cow develops mastitis. Sexual cycles are also disrupted.
Treatment should be carried out by a veterinarian, since ergot preparations are used to treat uterine subinvolution. Lochia is pumped out with a vacuum pump. This procedure must be performed carefully so as not to further damage the uterus and vagina.
Postpartum sepsis
There are 3 types: pyaemia, septicemia and septicopyemia.It occurs as a result of the penetration of various cocci or clostridia into the blood. Routes of entry:
- violation of the integrity of soft tissues of any type;
- difficult or pathological calving;
- fetal emphysema;
- uterine prolapse;
- delay of placenta
In cows of the 3 types, pyaemia predominates, that is, sepsis with metastases. Brown putrid exudate accumulates in the uterus, the walls thicken. Overall body temperature fluctuates.
Birth canal injuries
Injuries occur when calving is difficult or when a calf is too large. They can also be applied by staff helping the cow calve. The main sign of injury is bleeding. You cannot do without a veterinarian when treating an injury. The actions of an inexperienced owner are more likely to cause harm. There are no preventive measures in this case either.
Forcible traction on the calf often leads to injury to the birth canal
Veterinarian advice
To relieve swelling and prevent mastitis, after calving and before each milking, the cow's udder is massaged using a softening and moisturizing ointment. Preparations for moisturizing the skin can be bought ready-made in the store. The “Zorka” ointment, designed specifically for moisturizing the skin of the udder, has long proven itself well.
When the placenta is retained, preferably before the maximum period has expired, the cow needs to clean the external genitalia. Oxytocin is used epidurally at a dose of 20-30 units. Subcutaneously 0.5% solution of proserpine or 0.1% solution of carbacholine. These drugs help contract the uterus and remove the placenta.
If the uterus prolapses, you should immediately call a veterinarian. The cow owner will not be able to set the organ on his own. Before the veterinarian arrives, the uterus must be protected from unnecessary damage.To do this, the uterus is first washed with salted warm water, then irrigated with a disinfectant cold solution and wrapped in a sheet. You can use a large, new plastic bag if you have one on hand. The owner must also prepare inclined walkways where the cow can be placed. Before the veterinarian arrives, they need to be done only to save time. What happens next does not depend on the owner of the cow, since he will not be able to straighten the uterus alone and without anesthesia.
In case of paresis, the owner needs to cover the sacral area of the cow with something warm. This is usually straw under burlap. Before wrapping, the lower back and sacrum are thoroughly rubbed and massaged. As a preventative measure, the animal is not given a lot of concentrates during the dry period. Drink sweetened water.
Subinvolution is easier to prevent than to treat. This is not difficult for the owner, since the main method is to provide active exercise for the cow. After calving, the animal is given amniotic fluid or warm salted water with bran. Newborn calves are kept under a cow for 2-3 days.
It is difficult to cure pyaemia on your own, as it requires a complex of procedures using various medications. The owner has the power to prevent postpartum sepsis:
- provide a nutritious diet;
- maintain hygiene during and after calving;
- promptly treat postpartum complications.
If pyaemia cannot be avoided, the prescribed course of treatment is followed completely.
For local treatment of mastitis, you can use special syringe tubes with antibiotics
Conclusion
If the cow calves safely, the owner has virtually no serious worries.To prevent pathological calving and postpartum complications, it is necessary to follow the rules of feeding and keeping cattle.
