mis-presented - fluke or trend this year?

[Chap]

I have been hearing of lots of abnormal presentations this year at the start of the calving season.  Last night had 2 in a row upside down on first calf heifers.  lost the first one, took the 2nd out the side.  Out of 10 heifers that have calved so far in this group.  5 dead.  2 updside down, 2 backwards and 2 with leg back.  Nothing has changed in management of the cattle, but it is sure discouraging.  Other friends in the area are reporting similar observations. 

 

[cowgirl864]

that has to be heartbreaking, keep your head up

 

[CAB]

Brad are you trying to scare the crap out of us!!! It's working!!! Hope it starts getting better for you SOON. Has to.

 

[SWMO]

We have had years that it seems like everything that could go wrong would go wrong.  One year on a group of 20 heifers the first heifer calved unassisted and the last heifer calved unassisted.  Everything inbetween was ASSISTED.  Yes it was definately the bull.

On malpresentations I am beginning to believe in my older age that most of these are due more to the size of the calf and the room the cow has inside rather than just bad luck.  When there is a leg back or a head back it just seems to me that is lack of room inside the cow for the calf to position itself correctly.

Now the upside down and backwards thing I don't know other that it is a wicked presentation and more often than not the calf does not survive.  We have pulled them upside down and backwards when we just couldn't get the calf at least turned around so that it was just backwards and gotten the calf out alive just to have it die in a day or two to complications.  Just too much stress on the baby.

Sorry your calving season is off to such a rocky start.

JMO

 

[HAB]

I have heard, and somewhat believe, malpresentations were due to lack of excersize.  With this winter's wonderful weather, has everyones cowherd been roaming as much as normal? 

 

[Big Red Barn]

Right there with you. Last year we didn't call the vet once, and he has been out three times in the last 12 hours. Breech, Leg back and then a prolapsed uterus. Saved them both, but it starts cutting into profits with each call.

 

[Cattledog]

On malpresentations I am beginning to believe in my older age that most of these are due more to the size of the calf and the room the cow has inside rather than just bad luck.  When there is a leg back or a head back it just seems to me that is lack of room inside the cow for the calf to position itself correctly.


JMO

I totally agree with this.  It seems every time we have a breech the calf is usually large.  If I know the calf is breech I call the vet immediately!  Those calves have to get out fast if they're gonna have a chance!

I know it seems like things can't go right sometimes and breech presentation around here are darn contagious!  My family all together runs 100 head of cows and two years ago we had 11 backwards.  How would you like going into a calving season knowing you were going to have over 10% breech presentations!