How to tell if a cow is pregnant? How many calves are born pregnant? What are the signs of prenatal delivery? What about dystocia?

In breeding cattle, the early pregnancy diagnosis of cows has been perplexing the majority of farmers. To judge whether the cows are pregnant as soon as possible is of great significance to reduce empty pregnancy, improve production efficiency and increase economic benefits. So how to tell if a cow is pregnant? How many calves are born pregnant? What are the signs of prenatal delivery? What about dystocia?

There are six main changes in whether a cow is pregnant or not.

I. look at behavior recognition

After mating, the cow no longer shows estrus behavior, temperament becomes docile, appetite increases, fat hair is bright, rough step can be recognized as pregnant.

Second, look at the vaginal identification

After pregnancy, the vaginal mucosa of dairy cows changed from pink to pale, dull and dry. Mucus properties: after two months of pregnancy, there is thick mucus near the cervix. After three months of pregnancy, the amount of mucus increases and thickens. At the same time, the vagina shrinks, and there is resistance to inserting the opener. This is because the cervix is sealed by dark, thick liquid.

Third, look at appetite identification

After 3 months of pregnancy, the cow generally increases appetite, food intake, fat feeling, weight gain and smooth coat color.

Fourth, look at breast recognition

Swollen breasts, stiff nipples, pregnant cows. On the contrary, she is not pregnant.

Fifth, look at the cow's eye recognition

There are three specially exposed vertical blood vessels on the iris just above the pupil of the pregnant cow, the so-called pregnancy blood vessel, which fills and protrudes on the surface of the iris and is purplish red. In non-pregnant cows, the blood vessels on the iris are small and not exposed.

6. Look at oral recognition

Open the cow's mouth and look at the sublingual caruncle on both sides of the mouth. If it is bright red, it is a pregnant cow. If it is pink or light red, the cow is not pregnant.

How much is the cow pregnant and born calf?

The rates of singletons and twins in cattle generally account for only 1-2.3% of the total number of pregnancies. In addition to yaks in alpine areas that are in seasonal estrus due to year-round grazing and affected by climate, house-fed cattle are generally in estrus for many times all the year round, all the four seasons. The estrous cycle is basically similar, with an average of about 21 days and a pregnancy period of about 280 days.

Signs of a cow before giving birth

Accurately predicting the calving time of cows and doing a good job of delivery are important links to improve the survival rate of calves. The signs of a cow in labor are as follows:

First, breast enlargement

Cow breasts begin to expand about 15 days before delivery, and thick, yellowish juice can be extruded from the first two nipples before delivery. When you can squeeze out milky milk, you will give birth to a calf in 1-2 days.

2. Swelling of vulva

In the later stage of pregnancy, the cow's labia gradually swelled, became soft and wrinkled, and transparent mucus flowed out of the vulva 1-2 days before calving.

Third, the cow is uneasy.

The cow is prenatal, lying up and down, constantly looking back at her belly, walking back and forth, and urinating frequently. At this time, farmers should be ready to take delivery.

What if the cow is dystocia?

Dystocia in cows is usually caused by abnormal birth canal, labor and fetus, which can damage the birth canal and uterus, and cause diseases such as peritonitis, disseminated intravascular coagulation and shock. If the sick cow does not take the midwifery operation in time, it can even lead to the death of the cow and fetus, resulting in unnecessary losses in production.

I. causes of dystocia

Among all kinds of livestock raised by people, because the cow is the largest among all kinds of livestock, the phenomenon of dystocia is inevitable in the process of cow delivery, especially the fetus is too large, the posture of the fetus is incorrect, and improper feeding and management. nutrition imbalance will cause dystocia in dairy cows. Therefore, once a similar phenomenon is found in the process of cow delivery, it is necessary to pay attention to the production trend of the cow and pay attention to the delivery of the cow all the time. There should be a special person in charge and care, so as to avoid the death of dairy cows due to dystocia.

Symptoms of dystocia

Before the cow is about to give birth, there is often angry anger, sometimes standing, sometimes lying down, making a cry, the two hooves of the cow fetus have leaked, fetal water flows down, the abdomen is swollen, and milk overflow will be found when the breast is squeezed by hand. no matter how hard the cow produces, the head of the fetus does not fall. As a result, the symptoms of dystocia in dairy cows can be diagnosed.

III. Artificial midwifery

To lead the delivery cow to a flat and spacious place, it is best to secure the rope under a stable tree and bind the cow in a slightly higher head and lower hips in the front. Wash the cow's labia, perineum and tail root with warm water. After cleaning, the above parts are thoroughly disinfected with potassium permanganate solution. If you can't make the cow stand all the time, you can also ask the cow to lie on its side to relieve the cow's tense nerves and tension. At the same time, take the relatively soft rope and all kinds of midwifery equipment that are ready for midwifery. The midwifery veterinarian should wash his hands clean, disinfect them thoroughly with potassium permanganate solution, wash them with soap foam after putting on rubber gloves, and then reach into the birth canal of the cow with his hands to check. He did not touch the head of the fetus, but only touched the buttocks of the fetus, and found that the fetus was born upside down. At this time, first of all, the two leaking hooves should be slowly pushed into the birth canal of the cow, so that the fetus can return to the uterine cavity, and then slowly correct the posture of the fetus, so that the forehoof and head of the fetus are produced first. Then make the lying cow give birth hard. At this time, it was found that the cow was unable to produce, just lying on its side and gasping for breath. At this time, midwifery veterinarians should timely consider using artificial methods to pull the fetus out, otherwise the time is too long, it is easy to cause fetal death. Therefore, in accordance with midwifery matters, the use of traction to pull the fetus out of the mother. During the operation, a person is used to pull the cow's tail away from one direction. The midwifery veterinarian enters the birth canal and straightens the two hind legs of the fetus respectively, and the head is slowly pulled out along the vagina. Do not pull too hard through the vagina, but slowly follow the strength of the cow's anger. When the fetus comes out slowly, the midwife should catch the head and abdomen of the fetus in time to prevent the fetus from hitting the ground, and then take out the liquid from the mouth of the calf by hand. If you give birth in winter, make a fire near the cow to keep warm so that the temperature of the cow and fetus does not drop too much.

IV. Cleaning, disinfection and nursing

After the calf fetus is pulled out, the vagina and the vagina should be washed with potassium permanganate solution, or penicillin powder or oxytetracycline powder can be sent to the vagina of dairy cows for anti-inflammation, in order to prevent infection. After that, the cow should be injected with tetanus injection to prevent wound infection and suffer from tetanus. Due to the large physical exertion after giving birth to calves, attention should be paid to strengthening nursing care so that the body of the cow can be recovered in time. Cows should be given nutritious and digestible food and feed, millet soup is more suitable for newly produced cows to drink, at the beginning of feeding a small amount, the number of times can be more. And then gradually return to normal level. Concentrate can be fed with good palatable foods such as wheat bran and soybean meal, and trace elements should be added to maintain the balance of electrolytes in dairy cows, which is not only beneficial to health but also increase milk yield.

Veterinarians should make a correct diagnosis of dystocia cows and find out the real cause of dystocia. If it is caused by animal disease, long-term malnutrition, or due to excessive force in the early stage of delivery and inability to deliver in the later stage, or due to pelvic deformity, dysplasia, narrow vagina, or excessive fetal hypertrophy and incorrect fetal position, these factors can cause dystocia for cows. Therefore, in the event of dystocia, veterinarians should promptly conduct a comprehensive examination and careful and patient diagnosis, so as to work out a better treatment plan and carry out delivery of dystocia cows without harm to the cows.