It’s almost time for the babies!
Our momma cows are what we call “heavy bred” and are due any day now, so we are all on baby watch! Some things that we watch out for to let us know they are getting close is an exaggerated circumference of their midsection, especially on the lower half of their belly. This tells us that the calf is moving into the correct position for birth. We also keep an eye out for an enlarged udder; this means that her body is preparing for birth by making the vital colostrum that the calf will need when it is first born. Other signs include an enlarged vulva and increased mucus secretion which is indicative of an impending birth (within 24 hours).
Cows will naturally wander off by themselves and away from the herd when they are in labor, but it is common to see a few cows stick close by to watch over the laboring mother in case of predators. Labor usually takes anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours but if it looks like it may go longer or the cow is struggling, the rancher will step in and assist in the delivery of the calf.
