Labor Dystocia Management in Dairy Calves

Labor of calves in cows is divided into three distinct stages. Dystocia usually occurs when the first and the second stage of labor is interrupted or the cow can’t deliver the calf without external application. Dystocia or difficult or obstructed labor encompasses a variety of issues during labor, such as abnormally slow dilation of the cervix or slow descent of the fetus during active labor and after delivery of the head.

The three stages of the bovine birthing process-

• Dilation of the cervix- The first stage of parturition is the dilation of the cervix. During this stage, the cervix softens and the pelvic ligaments relax. A thick clear mucus string can be observed hanging from the vagina. You can also observe a decrease in the cow’s appetite and her need to be secluded. Contractions begin at the end of stage one.

• Delivery of the calf- Labor officially begins once the water bag can be observed at the vulva. It is believed that in normal pregnancy and delivery, a healthy calf should be delivered within 2 to 5 hours after the water bad is observed. Assistance should be provided if you notice your cow struggling or when there is no sign of a calf after an hour of labor.

• Delivery of placenta- The last stage of labor is the delivery of the placenta which is delivered within 8 to 12 hours of the calf’s delivery.

There are several causes of dystocia. Some of these causes include; dystocia is common amongst that herd, poor or excessive feeding during the gestation period, calcium deficiency, ventral hernia, disproportionate mating, inability to strain because of age or pain, pelvic fracture, insufficient dilation, oversize fetal, fetal malpresentation, fetal defects, fetal malposition, and fetal malposture.

Ways to prevent labor dystocia

• Pre-breeding management- Effects of dystocia can be prevented and even reduced by selecting sires for calving ease and dams for adequate pelvic size, breeding heifers of recommended height and weight, and providing optimal nutrition during pregnancy. An oversized calf is a common cause of dystocia and can lead to a vaginal tear, which will require immediate veterinary attention, and hip lock, a condition that arises when excessive and inappropriate traction is applied to an oversized calf.

• Monitoring- Heifers should be monitored regularly and they must be provided with assistance quickly if the second stage of labor is prolonged by an hour. If there is a history of dystocia in the herd, then the cows should get special attention. Determine the length of the second stage of labor by carrying out observation at equal intervals.

• Exercise- Just like in human beings and other mammals, delivering a baby requires a lot of extraneous force. To prepare a cow for labor, she must receive an adequate exercise to improve her physical strength. You can do so by encouraging a cow to walk. However, you should also avoid moving cows that are close to going into labor. This is because fetal growth occurs rapidly and the position of the calf can change as the cow slops or fall.

• Apply manual pressure- Incomplete cervical dilation is a common cause of dystocia. Cervical dilation can be disturbed because of human interference or a stressful environment. Therefore, make sure that the cow is not disturbed often and is left undisturbed in a stress-free environment until the water bag is observed.