Behavioural phenomena related to normal and difficult deliveries in dairy cows.

Abstract

Behavioural aspects of parturition, as well as the behaviour of cows and calves in the earliest post-partum period were studied in a group of 75 Polish Black and White cows. Distinction was made between unassisted deliveries, deliveries that required a little help (traction by not more than 2 persons) and difficult deliveries, requiring veterinary help. Of the cows 14% gave birth without prior behavioural signs of an approaching delivery, 72% manifested clear signs of preparturient unrest and 70% showed outflow of allantoic fluids before the calf appeared. A large variation was seen in the timing of these preparatory phases. Prolonged unrest, a cessation of labour and no appearance of the calf's feet were the clearest signs that a difficult delivery would follow. After the appearance of the feet, only 48% of the cows were able to expell the fetus within 1 h. Spontaneous expulsion of fetal membranes occurred characteristically within 12 h after parturition. Of the cows whose deliveries were unaided or aided, 86 were in recumbent position during the final phase of expulsion of fetus. The majority (64%) of cows with difficult delivery were standing. Cows separated from their calves lie down earlier after calving than those kept with their newborn. From the latter category those after a difficult delivery spent most time licking their calves, partly in lying position. After a difficult delivery calves started their first attempts to stand later, stood later, and when kept with their mothers, suckled later, than did other calves. The behavioural differences between calves from unaided and partly aided deliveries were small. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)