Preparing for calving season: what ranchers need to know

Monday, January 12, 2026

Media Contact: Kinsey Reed | Communications Coordinator | 405-744-6740 | kinsey.reed@okstatee.edu

As calving season approaches, preparation and close observation can help ranchers prevent complications and improve outcomes for both cows and calves, according to Lionel J. Dawson, a veterinarian with Oklahoma State University.

“Calving season presents a wide range of situations, and being prepared is critical,” Dawson said.

Ranchers are encouraged to assemble calving supplies ahead of time. Essential items include palpation sleeves, examination gloves, 60-inch obstetrical chains, two to three obstetrical handles, obstetrical lubricant, a bucket, disinfectant such as chlorhexidine, a calf puller and No. 22 scalpel blades.

During calving season, pastures should be checked two to four times daily. Dawson recommends feeding cows and heifers at dusk, a practice that may encourage daytime calving. Feeding in the evening promotes overnight rumination, which can delay the onset of active labor.

The active stage of labor in cows typically lasts 30 to 120 minutes and may be longer in heifers. This stage begins when the first water bag breaks and the calf enters the birth canal with the cervix fully dilated. If active labor exceeds two hours, the cow or heifer should be examined.

When conducting a vaginal exam, producers should confirm the cervix is fully dilated. If it is not, additional time or gentle manual massage may be required. Determining whether the calf is alive is an important early step. Live calves often react to touch by moving their legs, responding when the skin between the toes is pinched or showing a suckling reflex.

Backward or breech presentations require careful assessment. Muscle tone can be checked by gently stimulating the calf’s hind end. A lack of muscle tone indicates the calf is dead, while tone suggests the calf is alive and time is limited. Excessive stimulation can cause the calf to aspirate uterine fluid, reducing its chances of survival.

For examinations and assistance, cows and heifers should be restrained in a head catch or chute that allows them to lie down safely. Standing examinations offer more room to correct malpresentations, but once the calf is properly positioned, Dawson recommends delivering the calf with the cow lying down.

“She can strain more effectively, and it’s easier on both the cow and calf,” Dawson said.

Improper restraint methods, including pulling calves from behind gates or panels at poor angles, can result in injury and calf loss, Dawson added.

Lubrication is critical during assisted delivery, particularly after the water bag has broken and the uterine environment becomes dry. Obstetrical lubricants, mineral oil or mild dish soap can be used. J-lube is effective but should be avoided if a cesarean section may be required due to potential tissue irritation.

A cesarean section should be considered if no progress is made when two people pull during contractions or when a calf puller is used correctly. Oversized calves may not pass through the birth canal despite proper technique.

When pulling a calf, traction should only be applied when the cow is straining, with rest periods in between. Pulling one leg at a time helps guide the shoulders through the pelvic inlet and reduces the risk of shoulder lock. Constant pressure can restrict blood flow to the calf’s head, increasing the risk of breathing failure at birth.

Once the calf’s head emerges, rotating the body can help prevent hip lock before completing delivery with downward traction.

Most calves that fail to breathe at birth suffer from prolonged loss of blood flow to the brain. After delivery, mucus should be cleared from the nose and mouth, breathing stimulated and the calf positioned upright.

Post-calving care is equally important. Rapid, forceful delivery increases the risk of uterine prolapse. Allowing time for the uterus to contract during delivery and encouraging the cow to stand shortly after calving can reduce this risk. Cows should also be checked for additional calves, uterine tears and excessive bleeding.

Oxytocin may be administered to promote uterine contraction, and antibiotics may be needed following prolonged or difficult labor.

Certain situations require immediate action. If the placenta appears before the calf, delivery should be expedited to prevent oxygen loss. In backward deliveries, once the hips emerge, the calf should be delivered quickly to prevent suffocation.

“Taking time, working with the cow and avoiding constant traction can save calves that might otherwise be lost,” Dawson said.

About the author: Lionel J. Dawson, BVSc, MS, DACT, is a professor and small ruminant specialist at the Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine and the Sherman Lewis School of Agriculture at Langston University.