Tips Calving season is one of the most exciting times of the year as producers see the outcomes of their breeding decisions in their herd. It is also a very stressful time when calving difficulties, or dystocia, occur.
Labor occurs in two stages.
In stage one, the female starts to segregate from the herd and starts to show discharge. This stage lasts from two to six hours. Stage two is considered heavy labor and usually lasts no more than two hours. Record the time when the stages of labor begin and other observations about the laboring cows so if calving difficulty occurs, you have a record to share with us. If the cow needs assistance, clean its vulva with a mild soap.