Never saw that before

rrlund · Apr 26, 2011

I saw something yesterday that I've never seen before. I watched a cow have a calf backwards,unassisted and the calf lived. I saw her out there straining for a while,but I didn't want to get too close so I disturbed her,so I came in and got the binoculars and rode the 4 wheeler way out around her. I stopped and looked. Thought,crap,those legs don't look right! She gave two of three more good pushes and the calf slipped out. I rode toward her as fast as I could. She was still down when I was close enough to see that the head was still inside,but she jumped up and the darned thing started blinking. She started licking the face right off the bat and it started snorting and took a breath. Quick as she got it cleaned off,it hopped right up and started sucking.
I suppose it probably happens more than you might think,but it was a first for me after many,many decades of having cattle.

IBorange in TX · Apr 26, 2011

Have been around cattle all my life,(70+yrs). Have seen that same situation only once.

Like that city kid asked.........
Wonder how fast that calf was going when it hit that cow....

M Nut · Apr 26, 2011

Good deal! I've had two calves born backwards since I have been taking care of the cattle, we saved both, but we had to pull both of them. Had one upside down and backwards that we also saved, but the vet was out and helped with that one.

thurlow · Apr 26, 2011

Have had several of 'em delivered bassackwards; it both feet are presented, it's usually not a problem. In my experience, many times you'll get one foot and the tail and the other foot is down behind the pelvis. Major pia to try to un-birth one.........whether presented correctly or breech; trying to push 'em back far enough to get the other foot out. Have I ever mentioned how I don't miss owning livestock?

Nate V. IA · Apr 26, 2011

Happens more than you think I bet. Unless you see every calf born how would you know how it was presented. I do agree that most of the calves I've pulled have come backwards and it is almost impossible to "un-birth" one.
Nate

Mike (WA) · Apr 26, 2011

We had one that was obviously in labor on a weekend morning, so wife and I went out to give moral support. As soon as we got there, I noticed the feet were upside down (breech). I went to get the pulling chains, and when I got back, cow was standing there licking it.

Wife said cow gave one more push, calf was about half out, cow literally leaped to her feet, and weight of calf pulled it the rest of the way out. Cow spun around and started licking and prodding it. She said she didn't know cows could move that fast.

jdtractor · Apr 26, 2011

i have seen my share and have pulled my share some lived some died , and i can tell you i dont miss the 150 or so of cattle i owned at all. i have been free from the headaches of calving season for 10yrs or so and i dont miss it at all. cattle got a mind of there own no matter how much you try to help.

Never saw that before

rrlund

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IBorange in TX

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M Nut

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thurlow

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Nate V. IA

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Mike (WA)

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jdtractor

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