Overdue cow when to get worried?

nihicib2

Hi all, we only have two house cows, well a short legged 7 yr old Dexter and her 18 month old son, she is pregnant again and has been overdue for a week, she's eating fine and not showing any showing any signs of restlessness or distress and being her usual moody self, her back hasn't dropped or pelvic bones spread (as I was told to watch for) I know that the gestation period is just a guideline and that all animals can go over or under the time. My question is when should be get concerned about her being overdue, she had a c section at some stage in her life as the vet told us (the previous owner did not disclose this) so thats why Im a bit concerned just in case she gets into trouble again.

We have her in the stable/yard and at night we check her every few hours, she calved fine the last time so its just looking for advice in order to be prepared and to do the best for her.

Thanks in advance

tiny timy

nihicib2 wrote: »

Hi all, we only have two house cows, well a short legged 7 yr old Dexter and her 18 month old son, she is pregnant again and has been overdue for a week, she's eating fine and not showing any showing any signs of restlessness or distress and being her usual moody self, her back hasn't dropped or pelvic bones spread (as I was told to watch for) I know that the gestation period is just a guideline and that all animals can go over or under the time. My question is when should be get concerned about her being overdue, she had a c section at some stage in her life as the vet told us (the previous owner did not disclose this) so thats why Im a bit concerned just in case she gets into trouble again.

We have her in the stable/yard and at night we check her every few hours, she calved fine the last time so its just looking for advice in order to be prepared and to do the best for her.

Thanks in advance

whats she carrying?

whelan1

what was the service date?

reilig

Dexter is normally 260 to 283 days gestation.

www.books.google.ie/books?isbn=1438983417

49801

sure she hasn't lost the calf since scanning?

bob charles

She will calve whenever she gets the pain:D

whelan1

bob charles wrote: »

She will calve whenever she gets the pain:D

when the apple is ripe it will fall!

hugo29

whelan1 wrote: »

when the apple is ripe it will fall!

try feeding her a hot and spicy Indian

Bizzum

hugo29 wrote: »

try feeding her a hot and spicy Indian

Or a hot bath:D.

If you answer the previous few questions (service date/what's she carrying to), some of us here will be able to give you some idea.

nihicib2

I have her in a hot bath at the moment, eating a spicy curry but no joy :P
She was AI'd to a long legged dexter or a non short dexter to be pc, she was covered on the 6th of April last year, we didnt get her scanned as we have only one female and nobody around here has cattle and nobody would come out to scan for one cow.

But she's as wide as a mountain and obviously pregnant, she's bagging up as well but its the fact she had a c section before is what is bothering me more than anything else, she calved fine last time and we have horses foaled before but never any complications (I just let nature take its course) and hopefully none with the wee cow, its just we have no experience with cattle calving and want to make sure we know when to call in a vet, (if it comes to it, hopefully not)

mf240

Nihicib2 a week is not a long time if your working from exactly nine months from service two week along with nine months is common enough.

I presume you used ai and are sure of the date. you could get someone to see if shes still incalf. Any softening of elder or vulva.

Edit posted at same time as you and I see you answered most questions. shes 280 days now so.

Whats she grubbing on?

Bizzum

reilig wrote: »

Dexter is normally 260 to 283 days gestation.

www.books.google.ie/books?isbn=1438983417[/QUOTE]

nihicib2 wrote: »

She was AI'd to a long legged dexter or a non short dexter to be pc, she was covered on the 6th of April last year

By my reconing she's 290 days today. According to Reiligs link above she is at the over the top end by a bit. I know nothing about Dexters, but if she was many of the common commercial suckler types I wouldn't be one bit worried just yet.
If you are absolutely sure that she is heavy in calf, bagging up/loosening down, in good form with clear discharge behind I'd be inclined to keep a close eye on her and hope she'd calve very soon.
Can we assume there is no/ clear discharge behind and that she didnt get sick to calve yet?
If you're any bit worried, is there an experienced neighbour that could throw an eye on her? Failing that the Vet if you'r still worried.

nihicib2

By my reconing she's 290 days today. According to Reiligs link above she is at the over the top end by a bit. I know nothing about Dexters, but if she was many of the common commercial suckler types I wouldn't be one bit worried just yet.
If you are absolutely sure that she is heavy in calf, bagging up/loosening down, in good form with clear discharge behind I'd be inclined to keep a close eye on her and hope she'd calve very soon.
Can we assume there is no/ clear discharge behind and that she didnt get sick to calve yet?
If you're any bit worried, is there an experienced neighbour that could throw an eye on her? Failing that the Vet if you'r still worried.[/QUOTE]

She's on hay and a small handful of nuts a day, like I said she seems content enough, she is heavy in calf, its plain to be seen and has the clear discharge as well (not much but some), her temp is fine and she's eating away. She's a wee thing, only comes up to my waist, and I aint no long tall sally.

No neighbour who would know anything about cattle, like ye said, nature will take its course, we are watching her and hopefully she'll pop soon (getting fed up of the interrupted sleep )

Thanks for all the advice, I guess it was more reassurance I wanted as well about the overdue part, I'll keep ye posted when she does finally decide to pop

adne

Ive a lmx carrying to lm adx. Bulled on 28. Mar, still waiting on her, she has 300 days now

nihicib2

Well lads, she calved today, I came home from school at lunchtime (Im an SNA) and knew she had started so stayed until calf was standing and suckling, took about an hour in total, no problems all, I think its a little bull calf, but dont want to get too close yet as she's protective.

We have a heat lamp on but its still very cold, is there anything else I could do to keep him warm, also she hasn't passed all the afterbirth yet, well its trailing down her arse and she's hunching up her back and still moaning a bit, is this normal? She ate a handful of nuts earlier and her hay and seemed ok apart from this, I guess it's just a matter of waiting until she passes it (just like waiting till she calved)

So hopefully all will be well and our wee fella will grow up to be some lovely roasts and steaks, thanks for the advice, great to have more knowledgable people to turn to

pakalasa

nihicib2 wrote: »

....she's hunching up her back and still moaning a bit, is this normal?

Are you sure there isn't another one in there? Is she still pushing?
The moaning may just be a show of delight with ner new baby.
Put up a pic when you get the chance.

nihicib2

pakalasa wrote: »

Are you sure there isn't another one in there? Is she still pushing?
The moaning may just be a show of delight with ner new baby.
Put up a pic when you get the chance.

Well the afterbirth is hanging out so I doubt theres another in there Id say its just like you said. will post pics tomorrow hopefully

RD10

as above when do u start thinking you need to get a vet?
have a second calver here at the minute @ 300 days. im not worried yet. ive often had the odd one go a bit longer than that. had one go to 305 days last year. just wondering what are people's taughts.
cow has a bad bag of milk so hard to judge by her when she'll go.

Mooooo

Can you feel the pins see if they are down? That's what I go by as opposed to the udder, although that's easier on a fr than a suckler I'd imagine

RD10

Mooooo wrote: »

Can you feel the pins see if they are down? That's what I go by as opposed to the udder, although that's easier on a fr than a suckler I'd imagine

ya. can see a slight change in them but she's a hard one to judge by the pins aswell.
a hereford cross.

tanko

I wouldn't be worried, she'll calve when she's ready to. Cows which went a long time over here very seldom gave any bother compared to ones that did it early.
Used KJB here a few years ago, well over 300 days was pretty normal for him. What's yours in calf to?

RD10

tanko wrote: »

I wouldn't be worried, she'll calve when she's ready to. Cows which went a long time over here very seldom gave any bother compared to ones that did it early.
Used KJB here a few years ago, well over 300 days was pretty normal for him. What's yours in calf to?

in calf to zag.
just had one about 10 years ago go a long long way overdue and by the time i got the vet, calf was 3-4days already dead. i had a hunch couple of days before that myself the way she lay down and got up out in the field for 2 mins..not a boo out of her then.
as i say im not worried about this girl yet. just wondering around what kind of time frame ye think is too long, or if ye were ever told by a vet?

Lady Haywire

I'd be same as tanko above, I wouldn't be worried unless she seemed in distress. A calf can die inside and there's no indication of it for a few days but it'd be a rare enough occurrence for it to be cause by carrying it too long and cow not showing any signs of calving.
Only time i get worried is after the water bag and before two feet show!!

fanmanad

Had a zag calf here go 302 days about a month ago. Second calver too. Calved no problem.

RD10

typical she has started when i went out to check her there now. il let ye know how things go..
thanks for all the replies

RD10

RD10 wrote: »

typical she has started when i went out to check her there now. il let ye know how things go..
thanks for all the replies

small zag bull calf. had him pretty quick. another thumbs up for zag. only one more to go now thank god.