Three stages of calving have been identified. Stage 1 (lasts two to eight hours) begins with uterine contractions and ends when the calf enters the birth canal. The cervix is dilated, and the cervical plug is passed. The pelvic area relaxes, and the tail is kinked. Stage 2 (lasts 30 minutes to four hours) is the actual birthing of the calf. The water sac appears and may be burst. Stage 3 is the delivery of the placenta. 1. A few weeks before calving, the cow will "bag up" mammary begins to fill. 2. Nearer calving, her vulva will swell, and you may see some mucous discharge. 3. The cow will separate from the herd if there is room to find a quiet area. 4. She will prepare a birth site by smelling the ground, pawing the ground with her front feet, and going round and round. 5. She will get up and down a lot as birth pains start to build up. 6. A small "water bag" will appear protruding from the vulva. This is the bag the calf is in and is quite normal. 7. The water bag will burst, and then you should see front feet and a nose. 8. If you don’t see front feet and a nose, things are not normal, and some manipulation may be needed. You may need veterinary help. 9. The cow will smell the ground a lot where her waters have burst. 10. She will then soon lie down and push the calf out. 11. She may get up and down during these pushes and look around, smelling the ground, almost as if looking for the calf. 12. With the final push, the calf will be delivered, and the membranes over the calf should rupture. 13. The calf may drop out when the cow is standing. 14. The cow will stand up and turn around to lick the calf and likely chew the membranes from the calf’s nose so it does not suffocate. 15. The cow eating the afterbirth is quite normal. The cord will break when the cow turns around. Stretching the cord helps to stop any bleeding. 16. Don’t break the cord until the calf starts to breathe. 17. The afterbirth will be pushed out soon after the calf. If it does not, don’t worry about it unless it hasn’t appeared in about four to five days. Seek veterinary advice.

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