by Whitney Wold
Have you ever wondered what we're looking for when we're watching to see if any animal is close to calving?
Many of you involved in agriculture or the cattle industry may already know these signs, but many consumers and people who haven't grown up around this lifestyle may not. Take a peek at the different things we watch for here at Missouri River Red Angus as we begin calving:
✔ Udder Development (Bagging): One of the first signs we look for is if the animal is "bagging"--which simply means whether or not the udder is beginning to produce milk. As calving time approaches, the udder becomes larger and firmer, and may even leak a bit. Seeing a cow "bagging" lets us know that the animal isn't far from dropping a calf in the future.
✔ Increased Restlessness: Cows about to calve often become more restless and start pacing around or lying down and getting back up frequently. They might even separate themselves from the herd, which tends to be a tell-tale sign that they're close to calving or that the process has already started.
✔ Changes in Behavior: The cow may start acting more anxious or protective and you may see her tail swishing frequently.
✔ Swelling: As the cow gets closer to calving, her vulva begins to swell and you may see the water sac begin to protrude. Usually, once a water sac is present, we usually see a calf arrive within an hour or so.
While watching and observing these different signs of calving, we are also watching to see if we need to step in and assist in the birthing process. Blake (my husband) is often watching for toes, which direction the calf is coming out, and the size of the calf. If he notices anything alarming, he'll immediately step in and assist so that the cow and the calf aren't in any distress.
Have any other questions about calving? We're always willing to have conversations! Reach out and visit with us any time!
Whitney is on the NDFB Promotion and Education Committee. She and her husband Blake own Missouri River Red Angus. This post appeared on the MRRA Facebook page and is reprinted with permission.