PA Lambing and Calving

Vaginal prolapse: risk factors

3rd trimester
Breed (e.g. Hereford)
Obesity
Previous perineal trauma
Oestrogenic pasture
Lax sacrotuberous ligaments

Should animals with a vaginal prolapse be culled

Yes

Vaginal prolapse: grading system

1 \= only when lying, healthy vaginal tissue
2 \= continuous, bladder may be trapped
3 \= continuous, tissue compromised
4 \= continuous, includes cervix, tissue infected/necrotic

Vaginal prolapse: treatment

Caudal epidural
Assess tissue viability
Clean and lubricate
Replace with fist/palm
Suture using Buhner's suture or horizontal mattress in uterine tape
Antibiotics

Caudal epidural procedure

Local anaesthetic given in sacrococcygeal or first coccygeal space (found by lifting tail, joint with greatest movement)
Clip and prep
Needle in at 90 degrees
Check needle is in right place using hanging drop or lack of resistance on injection
LA \= 1ml/100kg
Xylazine will extend duration
Needle: 18G (cattle), 20G (sheep)

Hydrallantois

Accumulation of fluid within the allantois
Occurs in 3rd trimester
Will not feel placentomes

Hydrallantois: treatment

Induce parturition or do a C-section

Should cases of hydrallantois be culled

Yes

Hydramnios

Accumulation of fluid within the amnion
Calf usually dead
Can feel placentomes

Should cases of hydramnion be culled

No - doesn' t usually reccur

Which bovine abortions should be reported to APHA

All - due to risk of Brucellosis

How long should stage 1 calving take

0-24h

How long should stage 2 calving take

30mins - 4h

How long after the water bag appears should the calf be born

1.5h

Calving gear

Calving jack and ropes
Eye hooks
Embryotome and wire
C-section kit
Local anaesthetic
Disifectant
Lube
Antibiotics
Oxytocin
Clenbuterol
NSAIDs

Calving history questions

How long has she been calving?
When was she due?
What can you see (feet?)/have you had a hand in?
Past problems?
Age?
Sire?
Any traction applied?
Value?

Should cows be calved in the crush

No

Indications that a calf can be delivered per vagina

1-2 people can pull calf into pelvis
Can get hand over head when in pelvis
Hooves out more than 10cm

Indications that a calf is too large for vaginal delivery

Feet crossed
Feet rotated
No progress

What is the point of no return when calving

When calf's shoulders pass through the pelvis

Clenbuterol

SM relaxant
Used to relax the uterus for assisted parturition (also delays calving)
10ml slow IV
Reversed by oxytocin

Oxytocin (drug)

Used to increase uterine contractions, reverse clenbuterol, aid involution of uterus, and stimulate milk let down (especially after C-section)
1-4ml IM

Twisted uterus: common direction of twist

Anticlockwise

Twisted uterus: diagnosis

Vaginal exam (or rectal exam if cervix is involved)

Twisted uterus: correction if calf can be felt

Grab calf
Rock calf and flip it over to untwist
Can use GYN stick

Twisted uterus: correction if calf cannot be felt

Hold calf in place
Cast cow in direction of twist (i.e. onto left if anticlockwise twist)

Twisted uterus: risk factors

Cows \> heifers
Big calf
Male calf
Hypocalcaemia
Excessive foetal movement (e.g. walking on slopes)

Cervical stenosis

Sheep \> cattle
AKA ringwomb in sheep
Consider C-section as tearing can occur
Manual dilation may work

Vulval stenosis: treatment

Lube and stretching (20 mins)
Episiotomy

Rotten calves: treatment

Lots of lube - can use stomach pump to insert
Embryotomy if still in one piece
If falling apart, need to remove all pieces
Flush uterus

Name of the condition which 'turns calves inside out'

Schistosoma Reflexus

Schistosoma reflexus: how to remove calf

C-section or embryotomy

How to remove a calf with ascities

Puncture its abdomen and let fluid drain

Polymelia

Congenital deformity causing extra limbs

Indications for embryotomy

Dead calf
Hip lock

Hip lock embryotomy

Calf pulled as far out as possible
Calf cut in half behind last rib
Wire threaded over calf's back and between its legs
Embryotome (or plastic pipe) used to protect cow
Pelvis sawed in half and removed

Post-op care for embryotomy

Nursing (often down cows)
NSAIDs
Antibiotics
Fluids

2 main things to check about calf that has just been pulled out

Breathing
Umbilical haemorrhage

Why can metabolic acidosis develop in fresh calves

Respiratory acidosis is what triggers them to start breathing, if this is delayed then it can progress to a metabolic acidosis

Signs of metabolic acidosis in fresh calves

No suck
Decreased respiration
Delayed time to sternal recumbency (\>3mins)
Dull
Hyperreflexive
Scleral/conjunctival haemorrhage

Treatment of metabolic acidosis in fresh calves

Get breathing
50-100ml 8.4% bicarbonate solution slow IV

How to make 8.4% bicarbonate solution

35g bicarbonate into 400ml saline

Indication for thoracic squeeze

Dopey calves (especially if born by C-section)

What should be done after an assisted calving

Check for another calf
Check for trauma/haemorrhage
NSAIDs if difficult calving (avoid flunixin)
Antibiotics if required
Oxytocin (to reverse clenbuterol)
Ca injection if required
Oral fluids

Vaginal or pudendal artery haemorrhage post-calving

Acute - death in 0-6h
Give epidural
If vessel can be found, clamp it
Pack uterus with bedsheet/towels
Blood transfusion?

Uterine artery haemorrhage post-calving

Less acute than vaginal or pudendal a.s
Epidural and pack uterus
Oxytocin

Uterine prolapse: advice to farmer on the phone

Keep cow still and wrap prolapse in a clean plastic sheet or bed sheet

Uterine prolapse: treatment

Sternal recumbency with legs extended caudally
Epidural and xylazine
Clean uterus and remove/trim placenta
Push uterus back in
Lots of lube required
Need to fully evert uterus inside cow (wine bottle good)
Oxytocin into uterus
Stitch up (out in 4-5d)

Signs of obturator nerve damage post-calving

Splits

Signs of peroneal nerve damage post-calving

Knuckled

Signs of sciatic nerve damage post-calving

Unable to rise

Post-calving nerve damage: treatment

NSAIDs, steroids
(hobbles if obturator)
Nursing (can be up to 3 weeks)

Indications of C-section on farm

Calf/lamb too big
Small pelvis
Deformed calf/lamb
Twisted uterus which cannot be corrected
Dead/emphysematous calf/lamb

On what side of the ruminant is the incision for a C-section done

Left

Drugs required for a C-section on farm

Local anaesthetic for epidural and flank
Braod spectrum antibiotics (pen and strep or amoxiclav)
NSAIDs (meloxicam or ketoprofen)
Clenbuterol
Oxytocin

Name of the local anaesthetic block used for flank in C-section on farm

Inverted L block

Layers which will be incised through in a C-section on farm

Skin
External abdominal oblique
Internal abdominal oblique
Transverse abdominis
Peritoneum
Uterus

Ruminant C-section: method

Clip and prep
LA
Incise into abdomen
Locate uterus (down and to left)
Bring calf's feet towards incision
Incise over right hoof and extend up to hock
Incise placenta
Farmer hold foot while you bring other one out
Pull calf up and towards tail (need to ensure uterus doesnt come out)
Trim placenta
Inverting sutures in uterus
Scoop fluid out of abdomen
Close peritoneum and transverse abdominis
Close IAO and EAO
Skin closure
Blue spray
NSAIDs and antibiotics for 5 days

Ruminant C-section: complications during operation

Cow goes down
Enter rumen (should have suture material set up)
Friable uterus
Acidotic calf

Ruminant C-section: complications 1-3 weeks post-op

Retained foetal membranes (\>24h)
Wound infection
Peritonitis
Poor foetal-maternal bond

How much LA is required for a sheep C-section

40-60ml

How is second calf/lamb removed during a C-section

Put hand through incision and then down towards cervix and into other horn

Episiotomy in cattle: method

Epidural
5-10cm incisions at 10 and/or 2 o'clock positions on vulva
Suture mucosa and skin closed separately

Purpose of vasectomy

To produce infertile teaser animals

Vasectomy in sheep: method

Restrain on back with calving ropes around hindlimbs to prevent kicking
8-10ml LA around both sides of cord
4cm incision just over spermatic cord (on testicle)
Dissect CT around cord with fingers
Locate deferent duct (medial location, feels firm)
Incise over cord in tunic
Clamp and tie off
Remove section of cord

IgG content of high quality colostrum

\>50mg/ml
Brix \= 22%

Consequences of failure of passive transfer (FPT) in calves

Higher calf mortality
Lower production and fertility as adults

Causes of failure of passive transfer (FPT) in calves

Down cow (e.g. nerve damage, hypocalcaemia)
Weak calf (e.g. twins, dystocia)
Poor quality colostrum (e.g. poor nutrition)
Not enough colostrum
High yielding mother (dilution effect)
Mis-mothering

3 (5) Qs of colostrum management

Quickly
Quantity
Quality
(Quietly)
(Cleanly)

Colostrum requirement of calves

10-15% BW in 6-12h
(split into 2 feeds to prevent overwhelming the gut)

How is colostrum quality measured

Brix refractometer
Colostrometer
Total protein measurement

Why is bacterial load in colostrum important

Bacteria prevents IgG absorption in the gut

Methods of minimising colostrum contamination

Clean teats prior to collection
Store in a covered container
Use/refrigerate/freeze as soon as possible
Thoroughly clean feeding equipment

Alternatives to calf's mother's colostrum

Colostrum from another cow (from the same farm or from another farm)
Artificial colostrum

Colostrum storage

Fridge (

What can be done to check for failure of passive transfer in calves

Calf serum IgG or total protein within 1-7d

Calf serum level of IgG if passive transfer has occurred

\>10mg/ml

Calf serum level of total protein if passive transfer has occure

\>50mg/ml
Brix \= \>8.4%

What % of a flock should be culled each year

10-15%

When should intervention occur during lambing

Malpresentation
Signs of pain
\>2h post waterbag
\>1/2h unproductive straining
Discolouration of birth fluids

Causes of uterine inertia in sheep

Lack of energy or calcium
Uterine overstretching

Causes of ringwomb

Premature/abortion
Malpresentation
Disturbance during first stage labour
Calcium deficiency
Exogenous oestrogens
Scarring/inflammation from previous pregnancy/prolapse

Ringwomb: treatment

Manual dilation
Calcium injection
Prostaglandins
C-section

Which local anaesthetic is best for a c-section in sheep

Lignocaine

Vaginal prolapse in sheep: risk factors

Incorrect BCS
Low calcium
Steep fields
Older ewes
Multiple lambs
Short tail docking
Lameness/lack of exercise

Vaginal prolapse in sheep: treatment

Assess viability
Caudal epidural (lignocaine and xylazine)
Antibiotics and NSAIDS
Wash prolapse, lube and replace
Buhner suture with easy release knot (if not lambing)

Vaginal prolapse in sheep: should they be culled

yes

Uterine prolapse in sheep: treatment

Get farmer to cover and keep ewe still until vet arrives
Sternal recumbency with wide hindlegs
Check viability, wash, lube and reinsert
+/- suture
Oxytocin
Antibiotics and NSAIDs

Metritis in sheep: signs

Systemic illness
Smelly red/brown/purulent vaginal discharge
Vulval swelling
Hungry lambs (as ewe doesnt rise as often)

Metritis in sheep: treatment

Fluids (IV or oral)
IV antibiotics (5-7d)
NSAIDs or steroids

Malignant oedema in sheep

Clostridial disease of reproductive tract

Malignant oedema in sheep: signs

Perineal swelling
Purple/red/black discolouration
Oozing discharge
Rapid death

Mastitis in sheep: signs

Abnormal gait
Systemic illness
Hot/cold, swollen vulva
Hungry lambs
Clotted/watery/bloody milk

Mastitis in sheep: risk factors

Inadequate nutrition
Orf
Trauma
Previous mastitis
Young ewes
Poor hygiene
Cold winds
Poor conformation

Mastitis in sheep: main causative agents

Mannheimia haemolytica
Staph
(strep)
(E.coli)
(mycoplasma agalactiae - notifiable)
(maedi-visna)
(leptospira interogans)

Mastitis in sheep: treatment

Systemic antibiotics (amoxicillin or tilmicosin)
NSAIDs
Milk out affected quarter
IVFT if required
Feed lambs

Pre-pubic tendon rupture in sheep

Older ewes with multiple lambs
Ventral abdominal swelling
Require assistance at lambing
Should be culled (or euthanised on welfare grounds)