Induction of cow

[DFSC]

We have a cow that was due to TM Gus on 9/10/10. She is now 5 days overdue. When do you start to worry? She has a little milk and mucus, but that is about it. Anyone who has had Gus calves, do they seem to come late?

Thanks,
Jordan

 

[Show Heifer]

Relax.... take a big breath and relax....

Now, the first question that pops into my head is "Are you absolutely positive that she is AI bred?"
Second question: "Was there ANY exposure to a bull after the AI date?"

Mother nature is rarely wrong, I have had cows go past their AI date as long as 10 days (She was a limmi).  The only time I worry is when they show signs of calving (pacing, sunken flank, restlessness) and nothing progresses.... THEN I get worried.

 

[DFSC]

Haha thank you show heifer I needed that! I am absolutely positive about the due date, she was AI'd and we do not have a bull nor do our neighbors. I can tell that the baby has dropped. She is still comfortable and eating. How long do you think is too long to wait? I talked to the vet in our area and he said about 7-10 days. Does that seem about right?

Thanks,
Jordan

 

[hamburgman]

in complete agreement with show heifer

 

[GoWyo]

This one struck me kind of funny.  "Induction" seems to apply inducting the cow into a hall of fame or something like that.  "Inducement" is probably the word you were looking for.  Oh well, sorry about the English lesson.  ;D

 

[DFSC]

Haha thanks!

 

[OH Breeder]

This one struck me kind of funny.  "Induction" seems to apply inducting the cow into a hall of fame or something like that.  "Inducement" is probably the word you were looking for.  Oh well, sorry about the English lesson.   ;D

In the hospital we call it an induction many times when inducing labor. Either term is actually correct. You perform an induction.

 

[Bain Simmental]

I've been told by many people that we may learn from reading books, but cows dont read the books. Another good quote i heard tonight is nothing will make you a liar faster than guns, cows, dogs, and trucks. I was also really worried when my heifer was late to calve, but since i dont know how to do my own AI work i had to go off of what the man breeding her told me. I was finally convinced she had either been exposed to a bull somehow or she aborted until 3 months late she popped out a heifer calf, turns out he may have AI'd twice and forgot.

 

[GoWyo]

This one struck me kind of funny.  "Induction" seems to apply inducting the cow into a hall of fame or something like that.  "Inducement" is probably the word you were looking for.  Oh well, sorry about the English lesson.   ;D

In the hospital we call it an induction many times when inducing labor. Either term is actually correct. You perform an induction.

Guess I learned something today - thanks.  (thumbsup)

 

[OKshorthorn]

One thing that I have been wondering. How far in advance of birth, on average, do cows actually have discharge of mucus and whatnot? I have heard that it's usually up to 2 weeks in advance, anyone agree? disagree?

 

[DFSC]

Bump! Still no calf...

 

[OH Breeder]

Okay,.
A couple years ago used a "low birth weight sire" and my calves all were over due. I though I would let mother nature take its course. Well, I got nervous and had the vet come and check them. We did three c-sections and had a prolapse on a heifer we never had checked that had a 98# concrete  block. Since then. We do not run but 15 or so cows. Each loss in our herd is huge. C-sections are expensive around here. SO, my recommedation- have your vet check the cow. He can tell malpresentation and will have an idea of birthweight of the calf. I konw lots folks say oh just wait. But each day over the calf keeps gaining weight. I get nervous. If I am sure of due date and they go beyond 5-7 days, I palpate and if I can figure it out I call the vet. We have induced a Heat Wave that was three days over and the calf was right at 100#'s and we jacked it out.
SO maybe I am nervouse Nelly but I feel better with live calves. I am sure their are folks that will not induce and won't mess. But 2 calves out of 12 is lots higher loss than 2 out of 50.

 

[firesweepranch]

SO maybe I am nervous Nelly but I feel better with live calves. I am sure their are folks that will not induce and won't mess. But 2 calves out of 12 is lots higher loss than 2 out of 50.

try having 100% calf crop loss! Our first year, we had one calf and lost him. Bought the heifer from a dispersal sale (ETR Cattle) bred to simmnetal bull, Mo Better. She calved on her due date, but the calf was 100 plus pounds! It was a hard pull. His head was swollen, along with his tongue sticking out for a day or so (because it was so swollen). We took them to the vet to have them checked out. All was good, but lost him a week later - found him cold laying on the ground. I think he was gone mentally and only survived that long because we were always trying to help him. He never got fat or filled out. When we found him, he was still alive so we brought him in and put him next to the wood stove and just rubbed for over an hour to warm him up. His rectal temp was less than 78 F if I remember correctly. Never stood or nursed, even after being back at the vets for 2 days on fluids. Brain fried, I think.  A bad year for us  :'(

 

[Show Heifer]

Haha thank you show heifer I needed that! I am absolutely positive about the due date, she was AI'd and we do not have a bull nor do our neighbors. I can tell that the baby has dropped. She is still comfortable and eating. How long do you think is too long to wait? I talked to the vet in our area and he said about 7-10 days. Does that seem about right?

Thanks,
Jordan

I wouldn't get real worried until about 10 days over due.  Having a vet "feel" for the calf is (IMVHO) is worthless. The calf will move quite a bit in the last few days, so where the calf is now, is not where it will be in 6 hours!
I know it is hard.... being totally out of control is hard, but again, 99% of the time, it will all be ok! I wish you luck!

 

[OH Breeder]

Haha thank you show heifer I needed that! I am absolutely positive about the due date, she was AI'd and we do not have a bull nor do our neighbors. I can tell that the baby has dropped. She is still comfortable and eating. How long do you think is too long to wait? I talked to the vet in our area and he said about 7-10 days. Does that seem about right?

Thanks,
Jordan

I wouldn't get real worried until about 10 days over due.  Having a vet "feel" for the calf is (IMVHO) is worthless. The calf will move quite a bit in the last few days, so where the calf is now, is not where it will be in 6 hours!
I know it is hard.... being totally out of control is hard, but again, 99% of the time, it will all be ok! I wish you luck!

Having a vet feel is worthless? Your kidding right? ???  My vet grew up on a 300 head dairy operation and he can tell the size of the calf by palpation. If your vet can't .......I feel for you no pun intended. They also can get an idea of how much room the calf will have to pass. I had a $3000.00 vet bill because i "waited til 10 days". = 3 c-sections and one prolapse fixed at 130am. To each their own but I would invest in a farm call. If you trust your vets judgement. I also had Triplets from a single embryo transfer. I lost one of the three because we didn't know.

MANAGEMENT OF COWS BEFORE AND DURING CALVING IS CRITICAL
By: Dr. Stephen B. Blezinger
Ph.D, PAS
Management during the last third of pregnancy is very critical, especially for the growing and developing calf.  The weight of the fetus and fetal fluids and membranes will increase about .90 lb per day in the last 90 days.

 

[Show Heifer]

Sorry for my opinion..... A vet can tell ABOUT how big a calf is, they can also tell ABOUT how much room a cow's pelvis has, a vet can also tell ABOUT what shape the calf's head is. Problem is ABOUT isn't good enough, and by the time they get done digging around to tell you ABOUT the calf, the damage is done.

By the way, one of my "vets" had a cat while growing up. One of my "vets" had to ask what color a herf was for a health paper. Another loves "farmers".
I have one that has been a vet for many years, and is decent, but still thinks Chi's are suppose to be 8 foot tall.
I have one that said my calf died because it "apparently quit breathing".

So I guess, consider yourself lucky.  While you are patting yourself on the back, ask yourself this : I talked to a vet that has been in practice for 50 years. He was raised on a BEEF farm that ran hundreds of head of momma cows, and still runs 150 head to this day. He said (and I quote) "I would never induce a cow unless the cow is in a life and death situation.... and if that is due to the stupidity of a mating done by a human, then I would have to castrate the owner after I did the c-section to save the cow the owner tried to kill."  Yeah, he doesn't mix words.... too bad he lives 3 hours away.

(By the way a vet can rarely find multiple births when the cow is past 4 months bred..... so your lost triplets was just bad luck) Good luck Jordan. Good Luck!!

 

[OH Breeder]

Sorry for my opinion..... A vet can tell ABOUT how big a calf is, they can also tell ABOUT how much room a cow's pelvis has, a vet can also tell ABOUT what shape the calf's head is. Problem is ABOUT isn't good enough, and by the time they get done digging around to tell you ABOUT the calf, the damage is done.

By the way, one of my "vets" had a cat while growing up. One of my "vets" had to ask what color a herf was for a health paper. Another loves "farmers".
I have one that has been a vet for many years, and is decent, but still thinks Chi's are suppose to be 8 foot tall.
I have one that said my calf died because it "apparently quit breathing".

So I guess, consider yourself lucky.  While you are patting yourself on the back, ask yourself this : I talked to a vet that has been in practice for 50 years. He was raised on a BEEF farm that ran hundreds of head of momma cows, and still runs 150 head to this day. He said (and I quote) "I would never induce a cow unless the cow is in a life and death situation.... and if that is due to the stupidity of a mating done by a human, then I would have to castrate the owner after I did the c-section to save the cow the owner tried to kill."  Yeah, he doesn't mix words.... too bad he lives 3 hours away.

(By the way a vet can rarely find multiple births when the cow is past 4 months bred..... so your lost triplets was just bad luck) Good luck Jordan. Good Luck!!

Patting myself on the back.  ??? And you wonder why you are the point of contention many times. At what point did you surmise I was patting myself on the back. I am offering a concerned owner information from my experience and perspective. If I remeber right you don't use carriers etc so your herd must be full of calving ease females bred to calving ease bulls and they all lay down and spit out their calves while you obviously call lots of vets to talk about pets and their life experience. Oh and cats.... :-\
Your old vet is exactly right. The "show" cattle today are not the show cattle of yesterday. Maybe you missed some of the debate here lately about large birthweights? I am not saying Gus is but show cattle today are not what they were 50 years ago. BY THE WAY I didn't say he could palpate the triplets but he sure would may have felt a few more feet and had I ultrasound like I had in the past we WOULD have seen mulitples. Small investment for a big potential loss.