Calving and calf rearing Calving or Parturition Parturition is giving birth to the young calf. The calf can be expected 9 months and 9 days (40 weeks) after servicing takes place. Two months before the expected calving date (the parturition), so 7 months after service, the cow should get plenty of rest | 7 Calving and calf rearing Calving or Parturition Parturition is giving birth to the young calf. The calf can be expected 9 months and 9 days 40 weeks after servicing takes place. Two months before the expected calving date the parturition so 7 months after service the cow should get plenty of rest because the growth of the calf takes up a lot of the cow s energy. This means that 2 months before the expected calving date a milking cow should be dried off . you should stop milking her and a cow you keep for traction should stop working. Once the date of expected calving gets closer the cow needs a comfortable place where she can lie down easily and which is clean. The cow or the calf might incur open wounds during delivery and the dirtier it is the more trouble you will have with infections. You can clean your hands and the vulva of the cow before calving begins to prevent disease and infection. Before the parturition the animal becomes restless usually seeks seclusion lies down and gets up frequently attempts to urinate often and then starts with the actual labour of delivering. Parturition can be divided into three stages 1 The water bags come through the birth canal. This may take 2 to 6 hours. 2 In the second stage the actual delivery of the calf occurs. First the front legs come out then the head and after that the whole body comes out. Once the front legs are out the calf must be out within an hour. Otherwise the calf might suffocate. The normal birth position presentation is with the front legs first and with the nose between the front legs see figure 11 . If the calf presents differently the parturition is much more difficult. In that case you will see the cow really working to deliver the calf Calving and calf rearing 53 but nothing comes out. If it takes more than 8 hours get veterinary help. If you help the cow with the delivery of the calf you should pull at the two legs. Always pull to the side of the legs and udder of the cow and never towards .
