The Bagpipe - American Highland Cattle Association

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REPRODUCTION
Pull alternately on each leg to “walk” the shoulders out. At this point, traction is applied straight back and always
applied with gradually increasing pressure.
Once the head and shoulders are free, rotate the calf 90 degrees to aid in passage of the hips through the pelvis.
Apply traction downward, with gradually increasing pressure. If the calf becomes hip locked, the umbilical cord can
become pinched off. Make sure the calf is breathing and call for a veterinarian.
6. All posterior presentations (rear feet first) are an emergency. The feet will appear to be upside down. While the cow
may deliver the calf without assistance, once the hips of the calf pass the pelvic rim, the umbilical cord is pinched off.
The calf is deprived of the oxygen in its mother’s blood and its head is still within the uterus, where it will not breath.
Death will ensue rapidly unless the calf is delivered immediately. Again chains are looped around each foot below the
dewclaws with the large link at the front of the foot, which will now be the underside of what is showing so that the
pull comes off the actual front of the foot. Rotating the calf a quarter turn and alternating traction between the feet
will assist in delivery. If it is possible for two people to pull both hocks on a rotated fetus far enough for the hocks to
appear at the lips of the vulva, then it should be possible to deliver the calf through the vagina.
Two reasonably strong people should have all the strength necessary to vaginally deliver the calf. If they cannot
pull the calf, it will probably be necessary to perform a c-section or a fetotomy (removal of the fetus in pieces.) A calf
jack or calf puller should only be used by someone familiar with its operation. The calf puller can exert tremendous
pressure, and used incorrectly, can result in serious damage to the calf and cow.
7. The calf puller is designed to save the strength of the operator. It was never intended to stretch an oversize calf
through a keyhole.
8. If you are assisting a cow and you have made no progress in 30 minutes, call a veterinarian.
Getting That Highland Calf Off to a Good Start
The vast majority of Highland calves will be delivered by their dams with no problems whatsoever. Likewise, it is
probable that the majority will also get to their feet, nurse and receive adequate amounts of colostrum without
assistance. There are Highland calves, unfortunately, that will do no such thing. A calf that has been traumatized by
dystocia, been stressed by the cold or whose dam has a poorly shaped udder may need assistance to ensure adequate
colostrum intake.
Calves that have undergone the rigors of a hard, long delivery are weak and stressed, often far more than they
appear. Cold and wet conditions are further stressors, despite this breed’s reputation for hardiness. Wet, cold Highland
calves are sitting ducks for difficulty in nursing and failure to consume adequate levels of colostrum. Calves basically
have limited time to consume that vital first milk so loaded with antibodies they need to fight off all the diseases
running rampant on the farm of birth. Mature animals are immune to all these diseases through natural exposure and
vaccinations and as a result most people don’t even know these diseases exist on their property. Newborn calves are
born with no acquired immunity to these diseases and require colostrum to provide their only protection against
disease organisms until the calves are capable of producing their own antibodies.
Calves need dry footing when they are first born. Muddy, slippery conditions with a calf unable to get to its feet,
continuing to coat itself with mud, will exhaust even the most experienced mothers that managed to deliver quickly
and easily. Combine a chilled, exhausted, muddy calf with an immature, exhausted heifer who has never witnessed
calving and doesn’t have the slightest idea what to do, and you have disaster in the making.
If dystocia was the initiating problem and the cow required assistance, the first priority is to get the calf breathing
if it is not. Wipe the mucous from around the nose and suspend the calf from its hind legs to allow drainage of
fluid from its airways. There usually is no need to panic if excessive fluid seems to come out; most of it is probably coming
from the calf’s stomach. Throw cold water on the calf’s head to stimulate respiration if it is not breathing.
Another method to stimulate respiration is to vigorously tickle the inside of the nose with straw or apply pressure
to the chest wall just above where the heartbeat is felt the strongest, which may stimulate the phrenic nerve.
Next, dip and hold the umbilical cord in a cup of 7% (strong) iodine.
The calf should be dried, either by the cow or with human help.
The cow should be checked for the presence of colostrum, blind quarters and mastitis. Some first milk will appear
to be bloody from bruising of the udder as the cow walks with a distended bag the last few days before calving. Bloody
milk is not a problem to feed to the calf, however, watery milk with clumps of debris in it or curdled, clotted yellow milk
that resembles thick pus should not be fed.
Help the calf to nurse either on the cow or feed it by bottle or esophageal feeder. Every cattle breeder should have
and know how to use an esophageal feeder. Ask a knowledgeable stockman or veterinarian to demonstrate if you don’t
know how to use one.
Allow the calf and cow to bond by penning with the dam in a warm and sheltered environment.