Although it has made a late arrival this year winter is reminding us that it can still deliver those cold cold nights and grey days and sometimes even snow. Throughout this time many of our cattle producers are managing a major event in their calendar year - calving. While this is such a joyful time when all goes well we do get many calls for assistance with calving.

Kim Rolls, practice partner, shares some practical knowledge on calving in three articles for this newsletter. Remember if you need advice or assistance with calving issues it is best to call and speak with a vet  - 63618388.  

With many clients managing annual calving during the next few months a good review of what to expect might be helpful..

1st stage labour = uterine contractions, cervix softens & dilates. SIGNS: vary tremendously but the usual are restlessness, picking at food only, getting up and down frequently, standing with back arched & tail raised, 'lowing', kicking at belly. The average time for 1st stage labour is 6 hours though heifers can take as long as 24 hours. Occassional abdominal straining may occur during 1st stage labour.Especially in heifers if there is any doubt as to whether 1st or 2nd stage labour is occurring then do a per vaginal exam. If the cervix is relaxed fully (ie there is no restriction felt between vagina & uterus) and calf is palpable then 1st stage labour has finished.

2nd stage labour = expulsion of calf. SIGNS: abdominal straining, appearance of a 'waterbag' followed by feet and head if anterior presentation, feet only if posterior presentation (up to 15% of births). Cows usually stand until head reaches vulva then either lie in sternal or lateral recumbency until calf is born. Time from appearance of water bag to birth of calf is 30mins to 4 hours with average of just over an hour (when calving heifers take one and a half hours as maximum & give gentle assistance).

3rd stage labour = expulsion of membranes (afterbirth) usually 6-12 hours after birth of calf. Retained membranes are not something to worry about unduly and are best not pulled out. Infections and complications associated with retained membranes are more likely to occur after attempts to pull them out. Antibiotic cover is warranted if the membranes are retained for more than 48 hours.

And when it all doesn't go as nature intended and help is required..

• pull out & down so calf is delivered in an arc (when using a calf puller take up strain with rathcet in horizontal direction then use downward pressure on handle to apply the traction)
• as nose is delivered in tight pull ease the vaginal lips up over the forehead as you are pulling
• before using calf puller apply traction to each leg separately to ensure that elbows have entered the pelvis & legs are straight (you usually feel a 'pop' as the elbow, or stifle if hindlegs, enters the pelvis).
• before pulling at all feel that the calf is properly positioned - don't pull forcefully until you have both forelegs & head or both hind legs in the pelvic canal. 
• if hips lock in pelvis and reasonable force won't work then rotate the calf about 45 degrees & pull - in severe cases you may need to rotate to 90 degrees or more & pull sideways or up to unlock the hips (you can't pull a rotated calf with a calf puller as it only undoes the rotation)
• attach chains or ropes with first loop above fetlock (first knuckle) then a further half hitch around pastern (between hoof & first knuckle)

WHEN DO YOU CALL THE VET?

• if you can't correct an abnormal presentation 
• if reasonable traction force isn't working 
• if you've spent more than 1/2 hour without progression

6361 8388

When your horse cuts itself and needs stitching up by the vet, you know that protection against tetanus is needed. But what about those accidents that you deem not needing veterinary attention? Is your horse protected then?

Tetanus is a bacterial disease caused by a toxin produced by Clostridium tetani. The spores of the bacteria exist in the environment and when introduced into damaged body tissue they can replicate and cause disease. This includes large wounds that you get the vet out for, but also smaller wounds like punctures to your horse’s feet - including nail pricks. Some puncture wounds are so small that you can’t even see them. There have even been cases of horses in Australia getting tetanus after rope burns from tackle.

Signs of tetanus include a stiff gait, lockjaw, drooling and the third eyelid protruding across the eye. The horse will often become recumbent with legs held out stiff. The animal may convulse and breathing muscles can also become paralysed. Treatment is difficult, expensive and often unrewarding. Euthanasia is elected to prevent a painful death.

Prevention, however, is inexpensive and highly effective. Vaccination can protect your horse against tetanus. Annual vaccination against tetanus should be part of every horse owner’s management for their equine friend.

Remember: even those injuries that you deem not requiring veterinary attention or, even worse, those injuries you don’t see put your horse at risk of contracting tetanus. Protect your horse today and vaccinate!

In the past month five people were exposed to Hendra virus.

This occurred after an unvaccinated 31-year-old stock horse was found in a dam on a property west of Murwillumbah in the middle of June. The horse later went on to die, and samples were collected to test for Hendra virus, which returned as positive.

Interestingly, this horse did not have nasal discharge or the respiratory signs which are often associated with the virus. This disease seems to present in a many different forms.

This case is a timely reminder of three very important things:

1. We are entering the season when Hendra virus is more common i.e. the cooler months of the year.
2. As this case highlights, horses with Hendra virus can present in a variety of ways. Horse owners should be made aware of the risks and along with children and domestic pets, are discouraged from having close contact with sick horses.
3. Horse owners should be encouraged to vaccinate their horses for Hendra virus to protect both the horses themselves and their human handlers.