Parturition Behaviour - Cow

Stage 1

• Lasts ~6 hours
• Relaxing of pelvic ligaments.
• Mammary secretions change from transparent,honey-like to opaque, cellular colostrum.
• Body temperature subnormal by ~0.6◦C.
• Parturition will begin 12 hours after complete relaxation of the posterior borders of the sacrosciatic ligaments.
• Heifers may show signs of abdominal pain for up to 24 hours before the cervix is fully dilated.
• Occasional straining may occur.
• Picks at feed, irregular rumination
• 'Lowing'
• Kicking of the abdomen
• Restless, may stand with her back arched and tail raised.
  • May go down and rise again frequently
• Pulse rate often increased to 80-90.

Stage 2

• Lasts 30 minutes - 4 hours
  • Longer in heifers than in cows
  • Male calves take longer to be born
• Onset marked by the appearance of the amnoin ('water bag') at the vulva.
• Less frequent straining
• Remains standing at first
• During passage of the head through the vulva, the cow normally goes down and remains recumbent until the calf is born.
• May lie on her side or in sternal recumbency.
• Placental separation occurs more slowly than in the mare.
• Umbillical cord of the calf is shorter than in the foal and generally ruptures as the calf falls from the vulva.

Stage 3

• Expulsion of the foetal membranes usually occurs ~6 hours after the birth of the calf.
  • After 24 hours consider a pathological cause for retained placenta.
• Cow will eat the foetal membranes. Hence the cow will show a marked reduction in milk production for at least a month due to indigestion of the foetal membranes.