How much a cow carries a calf: terms, features and description

A pregnant cow is a joy for the owners. At the same time, a very troublesome period has come in their life. You need to understand about the timing of gestation, prepare for childbirth, so that everything goes in the best way and there are no situations that will catch the cow owners by surprise. What you need to know for this and how to be prepared for the appearance of a calf on the farm is described in this article.

The first definition of pregnancy

After it became clear that the cow became pregnant, the owners should change her diet. The sooner pregnancy became known, the better. Understanding how much a cow carries a calf and what needs to be done in order for it to be born viable, the owners will be able to pass this period calmly, without unforeseen losses, nervous worries and financial costs. The conditions of the animal must also be changed. On how all the requirements for caring for a pregnant cow are met, her health and proper development of the fetus depend.

The first thing to do is to know how much the cow is carrying the calf and calculate the time of delivery. Various methods have been developed for this:

1. A reflexology study when a bull is brought to a cow in the mornings and evenings. They continue to do this every day until it becomes clear whether the cow is pregnant. If she does not have sex, then she is pregnant, that is, pregnant.
2. A laboratory test that is performed on milk samples. Laboratory milk is taken for research from the 19th to the 23rd day after mating. This method helps to determine progesterone - the hormone of pregnancy.
3. Determination of pregnancy with the help of a veterinarian who uses the rectal method. This becomes possible after 1.5–2 months from the moment of conception.
   

Determination of pregnancy at a later date

Having learned how much a cow is carrying a calf, the owners calm down a bit. Since there is still time to make sure of pregnancy and stop milking it. After 5-6 months, the pregnancy of the cow is determined visually, by an external method. The cow compares the sides. On the left side, she has a scar, and the portion of the belly that stands out most is in the middle. On the right is the fetus. Therefore, there the convexity of the abdomen in the lower part will be stronger.

You can find out about the pregnancy of a cow by probing the lower part of the abdomen, on the right side the section that protrudes most. The head of the cow with its neck is turned to the right. This technique reduces the tension on the peritoneum. After that, very carefully, using a fist, press in the area slightly below the cavity in the side. You need to do this with short and quick presses. This method is not always effective, since the fetus can be located under the intestines, and then it will not work to feel.

The course of the pregnancy

How much a cow carries a calf , i.e., the period of her pregnancy, depends on the speed of development of the fetus. He himself develops depending on the nutrition and content of the cow. When the fetus has ripened and it can already be called a calf, then the cow's hormonal background changes. The fetal growth rate is affected by whether the cow is in the stall or in the herd.

When pregnancy is established, the cow can no longer be milked. It is believed that milking should be stopped 2 months before delivery. But, how many months a cow carries a calf, can range from eight to ten ( pregnancy lasts from 240 to 311 days).

Delivery time

If the insemination of the cow was planned and everything was successful and on time, then the birth will take place in the tenth month. In such cases, veterinarians recommend, and urgently, begin to stop milking after 7.5 months. Understanding how many days a cow carries a calf and calculating everything correctly, the animal is left without milking for 2 months before birth. That is, most cows are idle not milking, being pregnant, for about 60 days (maybe more). And only about seven percent of cattle have a shortened milking term.

A cow needs a break from milk production long before giving birth. She needs to have energy for the development of the fetus. If you remove the milk yield, then the processed food will go all the energy production, so necessary for the future calf. It will help you to find out how much the cow carries the calf, the table (calendar) of the launch and childbirth of the cows, which is located at the veterinarians.

If you do not adhere to this, then the cow may become ill, and the calf will be born unviable. Owners need to know that the calf is developing particularly intensively in the last 3 months of gestation.

Signs of childbirth

The table (calendar) of pregnancy of cows is accurate in 90 out of 100 cases, i.e. in 90%. When it is clearly known how many days a cow carries a calf and it is clear that the time of birth is approaching , you need to be vigilant. By the following signs, you can determine this significant day:

• The ligaments of the pelvis are weakened.
• From the genitals, mucus is released in the form of leashes.
• Colostrum appears.

Colostrum is called milk, which is different in its fat content from ordinary. It is necessary for the calf in the first days from birth. If the cow grazes with the herd in the field, it is necessary to separate it in the last days, and in case of childbirth, help to give birth. Be careful: cases of childbirth in the field are quite common!

Help for women in childbirth

To help the giving birth cow, the person is tied with a rope by the belt and tied to the appeared legs of the calf. They do this when they know how long the cow is carrying the calf, and the birth has come, and the fetus does not come out for a long time so that it does not suffocate. A man resting against a cow helps in childbirth.

If there can be two people during childbirth, then everything will be easier. Straw (rag) grab the legs (front) of the calf and help him come into the light. For this, the calf is carefully pulled out. Sometimes, very rarely, a cow needs to be cesarean. But this operation is done by a veterinarian.

Complications during childbirth occur in young cows, whose owners still have no clear idea of how long the pregnancy lasts for the cow, and the calf wears it for the first time (first calf). Such young women in labor, pregnant for the first time, require special attention and care. As a rule, they get vitamins, improved food.

But here, too, there is one peculiarity: one must not allow a cow to become overweight. Of course, you need to look at the cow at night, because this is a very favorable time for childbirth. A pregnant cow in a stall runs the risk of dying or destroying a calf during childbirth if she stands close to the wall. For a woman in labor, space is needed!

Birth

At birth, the calf needs to take dry straw and wipe it, clean its mouth and nose from mucus. It is necessary to massage the newborn. When the cow is able, she does it herself. She will lick it with her tongue for a long time and clean it.

Be sure to wipe the calf (placenta) from the barn after wiping the calf. If a cow eats it, then you won’t get any problems! You need to be very careful, the animal can start to eat rags and polyethylene - the cow can die in this case! Therefore, we must once again treat the birth very carefully and seriously!

The most important days are the first 4–5 from the birth of the calf. At this time, you need to give him warm boiled water between the main meals. The first colostrum calf drinks after about 1.5 hours. On day 5, mineral supplements are slowly introduced into the calf's diet, since colostrum is valuable for the first 5–7 days. Vitamin and mineral supplements that a calf should receive per day are divided into two to three times.