Open PRAIRIE: Open Public Research Access Institutional Repository and Information Exchange
Abstract
There are many factors which contribute to dystocia (calving difficulty). The cattleman should be aware of these factors so he can make sound management decisi0ns and reduce loss. In fact, losses from dystocia extend far beyond death loss in cows and calves. There are significant hidden losses of a more subtle nature. In cows with dystocia at the San Juan Basin Experiment Station, calving interval was increased 13 days, calves were 32 pounds lighter at weaning and 14% more were open than cows with normal calving histories. Data from the Meat Experiment Station at Clay Center indicates the same type of lowered reproductive performance (Table I). It is likely that much of this loss is generated by lack of sanitary calving facilities and handling techniques and is preventable
