Inducing a Cow

[mainecattlemother]

We have a cow my husband is thinking about inducing.  She is due on 4/19/. Last year she had bad luck and calved 5 weeks premature and we did everything to save the calf but could not. It was an I-80 and was a very tiny calf.  This cow is about as round as she is tall.  She is a Monopoly x Cowboy Cut.  I am not a big fan of inducing but want a live calf as if the calf is okay could have a lot of promise and possibly $$$'s.  Just for some insight the cow does appear to have a decent utter and raised a twin off another cow that would not take both calves last year and raised that calf wonderfully.  Any comments would be appreciated.

 

[cowman 52]

If you  palpate and calf feet and head are right in birth canal, feet especially, and front feet are about as big as a soda can, go on, use 20 cc dexamethasone, it will do what lutalyse does but will cause the calfs lungs to expand for lack of a better term.  Ex wife was a labor and delivery nurse, taught me much.
If you can't find feet, be real aware of breeding date,  dewclaws need to be down,( if up, you have a breech, )Have seen them turn over but just be thinking.

 

[cowman 52]

Old-timers set in, 72 hr after injection, you should have a critter.

 

[hamburgman]

I would "prime" the calf for a few days with 5cc of Dexamethasone once a day, daily for 4 days.  Then induce with 13cc Dex and 5cc Lutalyse

 

[cpubarn]

Search inducing and I think you will find old threads with lots of discussions.  Inducing has its share of successes and failures, so beware....

 

[mainecattlemother]

Just for everyone's info she is bred to Dream Catcher as we are looking for nice simmi steer or Foundation Simmi heifer with a little more height on the heifer. I think if it is a steer and takes on mammas traits it could be a kick**** simmi steer prospect.

 

[Tyler]

I have a question... the cow isn't due for another 4 days so why are we worried already?

Sounds like everything is going as planned, I wouldn't touch her, The Wernings use Dream Catcher on heifers so I don't see any red flags yet.

My advice is be patient and let mother nature do the work.

 

[Davidsonranch]

I tend to agree with Tyler.  Let mother nature take it's course.  I just had a 1/2 blood simmi heifer have a grandmaster calf last week.  I too was super worried as she was huge, uncomfortable, etc.  The night of her due date she had a whopping 60 pound calf.  Not nearly as big as I "thought". 

 

[mainecattlemother]

I am not too worried. Hubby is actually more worried than me. She actually has a lot of muscle so this does concern us a little but I really didnt want to induce early anyway as both my daughters are getting confirmed Thursday evening so didnt want to have to walk here every hour on the hour on Thursday.  Yes we will be watching her but the couple we induced in years past we watched like a hawk like every hour.  Hopefully everything will be okay.  We may induce this weekend if no calf by then.

 

[CAB]

Just to add a thought here, even though you had bad luck last year with is cow's calf, it does not mean that she will always have troubles. She'll more than likely be just fine from here on out. I would wait until @ least 1 week over due B4 thinking about inducing her. JMO. Good Luck. Let us all know how you get along please.