afterbirth question

[jbzdad]

the urban myth is that there is pitocin (causes uterine contraction) in placenta tissue that would help firm up the uterus and stimulate milk production

 

[kanshow]

I would agree that mothering ability is somewhat heritable.  However I've seen enough heifers that were marginal mothers the first time around that turn into great mama cows the second time around to believe that there is some learned behavior involved. 

 

[aj]

What do you mean humans used to eat it? I like mine in jerky form! ;D

 

[ROAD WARRIOR]

AJ - Thats just nasty! RW

 

[worthabit]

we had a heifer calve last week and it was a really hard pull. She was laid out flat aftre giving birth so I gave her a kick to get her up an she just jumped up and took off. Of course she didn't want the calf then so we penned them up for a week and put her in the chute for the calf to suck. We decided to let them go yesterday because there wasn't much progress being made and it seemed like most of the other two year olds were letting all the other calves suck anyway!  No sooner had we let them go was the heifer running around trying to find her calf and she has been mothering her ever since!  I know this heifer did not eat her afterbirh.

 

[jbw]

My Grandpa always told me the best way to get a cow to mother a calf is to throw a dog in the pen with the pair. He always said use a dog you don't like, it doesn't have to even be your dog! (dog)

 

[MYT Farms]

My Grandpa always told me the best way to get a cow to mother a calf is to throw a dog in the pen with the pair. He always said use a dog you don't like, it doesn't have to even be your dog! (dog)

Now there's a good idea. Many an old timer has used that trick, and I'll be derned if it don't work.

 

[justintime]

I wouldn't bother throwing your dog in the pen of a cow with a new born...grab one of the barn cats and toss it in. Make sure you are on the outside of the pen as you could be in big trouble if the cat goes between you and the calf... or even worse if it runs between your legs.

I have seen cows and heifers that go into a postpartum shock and act very unpredictable for a time after calving. Most will mother up immediately. The odd one goes into shock, can't figure out why or what has happened to her. Tossing a cat into the pen can change that in a split second.

 

[shortdawg]

I had a heifer calve today and she gobbled her's up like it was candy. Also watched one almost choke to death on one. About the time I thought about helping she recovered and came after me.....!!!!

 

[Cattledog]

Humans probably used to do it!

This is gross but I read where people still eat the afterbirth.  It is part of a pagan religious belief.  They actually have friends over for the fine dining!   I can't remember what purpose was.  I think that I was more mortified that people are actually doing this!

 

[RSC]

Humans probably used to do it!

This is gross but I read where people still eat the afterbirth.  It is part of a pagan religious belief.  They actually have friends over for the fine dining!   I can't remember what purpose was.  I think that I was more mortified that people are actually doing this!

WOW, what part of the world is that in?  LOL, Fried or Raw?  Is salt and pepper allowed?  Honey friends are coming for supper tonight can you throw this in the crockpot? (lol)

Tony

 

[keduhpn]

A cow of mine aborted a calf about 5 days ago, but didn't expell her afterbirth. I checked on her yesterday (the first time after she aborted) and the afterbirth was still in her hanging out. I gave her a shot of lutalayse. Was that the right thing to do? Has anyone ever seen that?

 

[RSC]

A cow of mine aborted a calf about 5 days ago, but didn't expell her afterbirth. I checked on her yesterday (the first time after she aborted) and the afterbirth was still in her hanging out. I gave her a shot of lutalayse. Was that the right thing to do? Has anyone ever seen that?

Had someone I respect tell me the same thing.  Seems to work good.  Was told if it don't work don't be afraid to repeat it again about 3 days later.

Tony

 

[shortyjock89]

Yeah, we've done that before.  We've also used Oxytocin too.

 

[chambero]

A cow of mine aborted a calf about 5 days ago, but didn't expell her afterbirth. I checked on her yesterday (the first time after she aborted) and the afterbirth was still in her hanging out. I gave her a shot of lutalayse. Was that the right thing to do? Has anyone ever seen that?

They make "afterbirth boluses" that you should use. I think they just urea boluses.  Anyway, you insert them up into them with a bolus gun and they help immensely with cleanout and avoiding infection.  Never heard of using lutalyse for it.  We always use the boluses on any that have cleanup trouble.  They are cheap.  You can find them about anywhere that handle cattle medicine.

 

[aj]

Let it dry out...let the dog chew on it to soften it. Then freeze it. Thaw it and add worchester sauce with just a splashh of soy sauce. Then chug a pint of voda. It should be ready in 10 minutes. Seriously, I knew a couple of professional archeologists who swallowed mice and voles. They then studied the end product to see how the skeleton looked in the end product. |It was a alcohol related incident but anything for science. I guess ancient man was thought to have harvested voles at times for consumptions. ;D

 

[kanshow]

We have one vet that likes to use Lutalyse for cleaning and another that recommends Oxytocin. 

 

[LN]

We use oxytocin.

 

[CM Cattle]

It is a form of defence against predators.  They clean up all the "evidence" as not to attract them.  It is sick, and they stand there and choke it down for an hour.  Im not sure how more cows didnt die doing that!  I think it is also a "natural" process, as there are so many nutrients left in there from nurturing the fetus for so long.  They eat it in attempt to absorb all nutrients back.

Thats what I thought, It will attract coyotes.

 

[LazyGLowlines]

We have 1/2 & full sisters to this cow at our place and they were all good moms.  We had quite a few cows in the same pen, including a hereford, so am wondering if there were too many in the pen when she calved. Lowlines aren't as easy to come by and there are only 1500 registered fullblood cows in the US to date, so we'll give her another chance.  If she does the same thing as she did with the first calf then we'll go from there.  We'll breed her heifer this year so will know more about whether it's inherited or environment.

Update: the cow we had that didn't bond with her calf last year just calved today.  She was in a big pasture, muddy and wet, and we found her with her new bull calf at side. He was dried off, which was a miracle since we've had so many rain storm lately. We pushed them into a stall, mama & baby side by side all the way to the barn.  So we're glad we didn't write this cow off!