Tom Stanley Extension Office Series On Calving Difficulties
Virginia Cooperative Extension is offering a winter series of three educational seminars on how to manage cows exp eriencing difficulties and distress during calving. The series consists of two video presentations that can be watched from home online and the third seminar will be an in-person calving clinic. There will be in-person calving clinics held around that state in February and March with one in Rockbridge on March 4.
Livestock are vulnerable to a number of ailments and severe physical distress in late pregnancy through the birthing process. Consequently, this class of livestock demands special attention and constitutes a particular animal welfare concern. Additionally, with pregnant cows of any age worth more than $2,500 per head and pregnant heifers worth more than $3,500, any serious distress that leads to death or morbidity of the cow or the calf has a significant financial consequence.
The first video presentation takes place 7 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 16, and can be watched by going to this website: https://tinyurl. com/16DECcalving. This presentation will address prolapses and nutrition for cows in late pregnancy. Prolapse is a circumstance where the connective tissues and/or ligatures that hold the birth canal or rectum in place fail and immediate intervention is critical to save the animal.
The second video presentation takes place 7 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 13, and can be watched at by going to this website: https://tinyurl. com/13JANcalving. This presentation will address calving difficulties and newborn calf survival.
The conference room adjacent at the Rockbridge Extension office will be open both these dates at 7 p.m. for people who do not have access to adequate computer or online connection. The Rockbridge Extension office conference room features a large screen conducive to viewing and participating in video seminars like these. If you wish to watch these seminars at the Extension office, it is important you pre-register by calling the Rockbridge Extension office at (540) 4634734 or send email to stanleyt@ vt.edu.
The third seminar in the series will be an in-person clinic led by Dr. John Currin, Virginia Tech veterinary specialist. Dr. Currin’s seminar features props and teaching tools that will give participants opportunities for hands-on learning on how to assist and bring relief to a calving cow having difficulty expelling her calf and increasing the chances of survival of both calf and cow. To learn more about opportunities to attend the in-person seminar, contact the Rockbridge Extension office.
