These resources are brought to you by the Cooperative Extension System and your Local Institution

FAQ #4788

Have a question? Try asking one of our Experts

Why would a cow have one calf and then the next day have another?

Related resource areas: Beef Cattle


View as web page

In this case, the twin calves developed in the two separate horns of the uterus --a normal bifurcated uterus. During labor, the cow must strain hard enough to rupture the placenta, or water bag, of each fetus for delivery. After she did this to deliver the first calf, she rested. She can rest for a few hours or a day or two before the labor hormone, oxytocin, is secreted from her brain to induce contractions of the uterus, initiating her straining to rupture the placenta and deliver the second calf.

Browse related FAQs by tag: beef cattle, reproduction, seperate day calving, twins

Have a specific question? Try asking one of our Experts

Unlike most other resources on the web, we have experts from Universities around the country ready to answer your questions.