When to inseminate a cow after calving. How to accurately determine that a cow has come into the hunt: effective methods. I want to share my experience in detecting heat in cows and heifers, as well as advise when they need to be inseminated

Your cow does not come into heat? It only seems to you! (+ video)

The most favorable time for insemination of cows is the second half of the hunt. The cow is inseminated twice during this time, with an interval of 10-12 hours. That is why the identification of the estrus phase in cows is one of the most important moments in the work of a zoo engineer and a veterinarian. After all, the level of reproduction of the herd and the efficiency of the entire production depend on the timely identification of a period favorable for fertilization.

Cow hunting: general concepts

Methods for identifying cows in heat

Measurement of body temperature (thermometry)

One of the most accurate signs of the onset of ovulation in a cow is an increase in body temperature of at least 0.2 ° C compared with the temperature for the previous day or with its average value for the previous 3 days. The measurement is carried out with the help of special thermometers in the rectum, vagina or o directly at the moment of its entry into the milking machine. However, it should be noted that a clear increase in body temperature on the day of hunting is recorded only in 27% of animals. In addition, an increase in body temperature in a cow is often caused by other reasons: subclinical, infections, or other factors.

Probing Bulls

With this method, operated bulls are used, unable to fertilize cows. Such bulls begin to be used from 12-15 months of age. They are used for the diagnosis of hunting, early diagnosis of pregnancy, stimulation of sexual function during puberty and in the postpartum period. One probe is used for 150-200 cows or heifers. The effectiveness of the method, with the correct use of bulls, is 95-100%.

The probe bull must be kept separate from the herd so that his sexual reflexes are not inhibited. Samplers are released daily in the morning and in the evening for 1.5-2 hours into the pens where there are barren, recently calved (from 3-4 days after birth) and inseminated (from 10 to 30 days after insemination) cows. At this time, carefully observe the sexual behavior of animals.

If the female allows the mounting of a probe bull, the hunt is considered to be detected. Such a cow is removed from the pen so that the probe can find other females in the hunt.

By the way

According to the reaction of females to probe bulls in the period from the 10th to the 30th day after insemination, infertility or pregnancy can be diagnosed in a timely manner. Hunting detected during these periods is a true sign of infertility, and its absence is a probable sign of pregnancy.

Probing bulls have another use. In a number of countries, they are successfully used to detect heat in herds where animal engineers do not have the opportunity to constantly monitor the behavior of animals.
The essence of the technique is simple - the probe bull is equipped with a special device that leaves colored marks on the cows. The tap is fixed on the chin of the bull with straps.

Several test bulls are prepared for the herd, which are changed in turn, every 2-7 days. The bulls tend to the females and mount the cows in the hunt. During such a cage, the taps leave short lines on the lower back of the cows between the shoulder blades. According to these marks, animals are selected for insemination at least 2 times a day.

Instrumental way to detect hunting

This method is also based on the registration of secondary signs of sexual arousal and hunting in cows. For example, registering a "hugging reflex" using a colored mark on the root of the tail. Such a mark is a strip on the animal's skin, going down from the first tail vertebra, applied with chalk or paint. If the cow is in a state of excitement, she allows other cows or heifers to jump on herself. As a result of such manipulations, the label is partially or completely erased. Jumping females are selected for insemination at least 2 times a day. This is one of the most practical and effective additional methods for timing insemination in cows and heifers. The main disadvantage of the method is the high level of false positive determinations (up to 37%).

Estrus detector for cows

Measurement of motor activity (pedometry)

Cows in the hunt show great anxiety and begin. It is by the increase in motor activity compared to the previous day or the average level of activity in the balanced stage of the sexual cycle that the hunting phase can be identified. On the large industries to measure motor activity, mechanical or electronic pedometers are used, which are fixed on the limbs of cows. Readings from the instruments are taken 2 times a day. Electronic pedometers are more convenient for practical use: the measurement results are reproduced according to the “yes-no” principle. With a two-fold increase in motor activity, a red glow is turned on, and with a smaller one, green.

For personal subsidiary farms A simpler way to detect activity is also suitable: a cow or heifer that shows signs of anxiety, jumps and gallops tirelessly and tries to escape from the herd can always be identified visually.

Why the cow does not come to hunt

Often the signs of hunting in cows can be very weak, so you should let them out for a walk together. The presence of other animals has a stimulating effect on the cow in heat;

The level of feeding and general fatness affect the manifestation of hunting and its duration. Insufficient feeding prevents the maturation of follicles in the ovaries. If the fatness is low, the animals do not come to hunt well, and it fades away quickly. But excessively obese cows fed an unbalanced diet also have a shortened estrus period.

Read about how chlamydia infections affect cow infertility

Kira Stoletova

It is difficult for an inexperienced farmer to notice when a cow is in heat. One of the most important processes in the puberty of an animal - hunting cows - requires special attention from a person. What to do if the cow does not come to hunt? Proximity cattle allows you to organize the work of the entire farm.

Identifying cows in heat is a paramount task for a person who breeds livestock. For large farms, there are separate methods for determining the hunt for a particular cow from a large population.

Cows and other cattle

Hunting with a cow is a natural process, without which the behavior of animals is considered wrong. It is very difficult for a novice farmer to distinguish when a false hunt occurs in cows, or to fix the moments of its refusal. The periods when a cow's estrus is approaching should not be ignored by a person, because it is he who prepares favorable conditions for livestock.

Is estrus in a young cow normal? Experts convince that you should not be afraid of early puberty in animals. The main thing is how a person reacts to any changes. It is very easy to guess the right moment.

Fertilization is conceived by nature not only for the continuation of the kind of cattle, but also for the regulation internal processes in the body of an animal. After the hunt, the female becomes calm and does not harm herself or the farmer. Missing the periods when the cow is drawn to the first hunt is dangerous for the animal.

False hunting in cows is also common. This phenomenon is a signal to the farmer that unwanted hormonal changes are taking place inside the heifer.

Before acquiring cattle, it is necessary to evaluate own forces. Without proper preparation and study of the lifestyle of animals, it will not be possible to breed heifers or bulls. In order not to waste time and effort in vain, you should consult with experienced farmers. Help won't hurt anyone.

When is the right moment and the cow is ready to be impregnated?

Puberty of cows

What to do if a cow does not come to hunt for a long time? Puberty of the female must be noticed in a timely manner, the consequences of abstinence in livestock are expressed in strong aggression and atypical behavior. A cow is a full-cycle individual in terms of physiological development. The restructuring of her hormones occurs every 25 days (sometimes less - in 18 days). Throughout this cycle, the heifer behaves calmly and balanced. The average cycle is 3 weeks.

The phases of hormonal changes in the body of the heifer are as follows:

the female is excited;
braking stage;
the period when the cow is balanced.

A cow is going to hunt in one phase, and sending a heifer to a bull at any time convenient time it is unprofitable and even dangerous for the farmer: aggression from the cow cannot be avoided.

Hunting is determined by primary signs, if the number of livestock on the farm is small. Maturation in a large herd occurs imperceptibly to humans. The behavior of the bull is more pronounced, but the cows show desire in a different way. During the period of excitation in the body of the heifer, the formation of eggs occurs, at the same time the level of estrogen rises. It is difficult to determine if a heifer is ready to hunt during this period.

Due to the increase in estrogen in the cow, vaginal discharge occurs. For a bull, this is the first sign that soon you can mate. The heifer cannot continue hunting for a long time; on average, the entire period takes from 10 to 20 hours. If you miss the right moment, the animal will not want to mate.

The heifers who have started estrus are able to injure the bull, harm him. It is impossible to make a schedule for the fertilization of a cow without taking into account the physiological characteristics of her body. It doesn't make any sense.

Ripening period

Five days pass from estrus to the formation of the corpus luteum. Gradually, the behavior of the cow changes. The first sign of puberty is vaginal discharge from the animal. Identification of secretions is a matter of 5 minutes for an experienced farmer. One day after the onset of estrus, ovulation begins. An egg appears on the second day after estrus. The formed cell is ready for fertilization with bull sperm.

After another 5 days, the phase of inhibition begins. The place of the follicle is occupied by a new yellow body, progesterone is produced. It is not worth doing mating during the braking period. After the heifers calm down, they avoid the bull and any intimacy with individuals of the opposite sex. The discharge becomes thick and soon ends. The next two weeks are the balancing act of the heifer when progesterone is high and tarragon is low.

In winter, the heifer does not seek to hunt. Cold and dry food make the animals weak and passive, but after a few months the cows hunt with great zeal.

The estrus lasts only a few days, and during this period the owner of the farm must guess with the mating of cattle. Artificial stimulation (special preparations are fed to the heifer) will cost more and take longer. The heifer hunts in the created favorable conditions. The reasons why a cow does not come into heat and refuses to associate with bulls must be studied and eliminated. Abstinence leads to serious diseases, then it takes a long time to treat cattle.

Information about how long a cow is in heat will help to establish the work of the entire farm.

Heat signs in cows are signals that need to be addressed immediately. It is in time to identify the heifer's estrus in the interests of the owner of the farm, because the good moment lasts no more than a day. The method of determining heat and the causes of poor health in animals have been studied by farmers for centuries. Folk remedies and advice from experienced owners of large livestock will help beginners in the first couple.

Among the habits of a heifer during puberty and methods for determining hunting, there are:

a sharp change in the behavior of livestock;
external changes in the genital organs of a cow;
bull-probe technique;
measuring the body temperature of an animal (a thermometer is placed in the rectum of cattle or the temperature of milk taken from a cow is measured);
fern leaf method;
excessive activity of the animal;
measurement of the resistance of the walls of the vagina (this method is used for large farms).

After taking bulls and cows, the degree of maturation of the cow is monitored after a short period of time. It is not difficult to identify the signs, the main thing is to observe the behavior of animals in the herd. It is better to do with the natural readiness of the cow, but it is not recommended to give drugs without a veterinarian. Signs will help determine the readiness of the heifer. The probe bull is considered one of the easiest and most affordable ways to determine that the time has come to inseminate a cow. The good moment for mating lasts only a day, in extreme cases - 2 days, during which you need to have time to fertilize the egg. Every novice farmer goes through a complex process, and then gains invaluable experience for the future.

Another feature is that hunting in cows after calving is different, the cow's behavior changes, she becomes a little calmer.

Probe bull for hunting

When there are more than 100 cows in the herd, it is impossible to determine the estrus for each. The farmer in this case uses convenient methods to determine the estrus. The puberty of the heifer is determined using a probe bull. It helps to find cows to inseminate. A bull is considered a probe, to which the seminal canals are tied. Sometimes the youngsters specially bend the penis. Such a bull cannot fully inseminate a heifer through sexual mating.

A castrated bull is also suitable for such purposes. To prepare the male for the role of a probe will allow special means for androgens, which prevent heifers from inseminating. Such sexual inferiority plays into the hands of the farmer.

A bull should be brought in as soon as females show signs of estrus in the herd. Most often, puberty occurs in heifers in a short period of time.

3 - Identification of sexual hunting

"SILENT" HUNTING AT THE COW. Golshtin in the conditions of the village.

Cow on the hunt.

Sexual activity in probe bulls is preserved, but insemination is impossible. Proximity with a castrated male is considered an additional stimulation for heifers. One bull can stimulate hundreds of cows different ages. The probe should be kept separate from other livestock. A bull is released only for 2-3 hours no more than 2 times a day. Farmers stock up on two or three bulls at once. The video clearly shows how to properly prepare animals.

The bull determines the first calving. The young are making a garden. Cows do not resist or run away from bulls. This method determines the pregnancy of the heifer. If after 10 days the heifer allows the cage, then she is not fertilized. Signs of pregnancy in the early stages using other methods can not be detected. A pregnant heifer behaves aggressively after the first mount - this is a sure sign that fertilization has already occurred. The following days of calving, no vaginal discharge is observed. At the age of up to a year, a heifer can become pregnant from the first contact with a bull.

Heat determination methods

Scientists have developed their own methods for determining the heat of heifers. Each method has both advantages and disadvantages. Signs of heat are not always easy to spot or find, even with today's scientific methods. Known methods for determining when the first heat began in young cows are presented below:

Podometry. The method is based on measuring the length of the animal's steps. For these purposes, the farmer will need a special expensive device. With estrus, the animal moves with a wide step. Video filming helps to determine the estrus in any heifer. Effective Method because of the high cost has not gained wide popularity.
Electrical resistance of the walls of the vagina. The old method does not require a lot of time or money, but it gives questionable results. Only 20% of calves with estrus are detected.
Measurement of body temperature. This method detects only a third of heifers in heat.
Laboratory research. The mucus from the animal's vagina is examined. Not every farmer can make such a check. An expensive and costly way is not affordable for every owner of his own farm yard. The vagina is covered with mucus, which contains an increased amount of estrogen.

The choice of method depends on the number of females in the herd and the capabilities of the farmer. The use of expensive tests is impractical for large farms.

Possible difficulties during the hunt

A quiet heifer without estrus is a problem for any owner. Such an animal needs special care and attention. Failures, when the animal body does not produce the necessary hormones, can affect not only the eggs and the development of the heifer, but also lead to the death of livestock. Where to put such a heifer? The animal is carefully examined by a veterinarian, because insemination is not the only problem of the farmer.

Diseases internal organs or improper nutrition can be the reasons for the lack of estrus. If the heifer is quiet and her body is weak, then the problems are either in the feeder or in the lifestyle. Changes in the conditions of detention lead to the restoration of internal processes in the body of the heifer. Internal pathologies are treated with medication. It is not worth self-medicating livestock.

How to guess the mating over time? The video "detection of estrus in cows" will help every beginner who has not previously encountered the fertilization of cows.

The periods of sexual hunting in cows do not last long, but it is necessary to prepare for them carefully. It is not always possible to induce estrus in a female by artificial methods, therefore it is in the interests of the farmer to determine the natural processes that occur in each animal. If the time has come to inseminate the heifer, she will let you know.

Conclusion

Thus, the estrus period is extremely important for both the physical and psychological state of the animal, so if the cow does not have sexual desire, this is an occasion to think that something may be wrong with the health of the cow. You can find out what exactly is by contacting a veterinarian - only he is able to correctly identify the causes and prescribe the correct treatment, so that in a few days the cow will again delight with the desire for sexual activity.

When should a cow be inseminated after calving?

According to the Ministry of Agriculture Russian Federation, one day of cow infertility (30 days after calving) leads to a loss of 0.003 calves and at least 7 kg of milk with an annual milk yield of 4000 kg.

In conditions of a shortage of complete feed, lack of exercise and insolation in a number of farms in Russia, veterinary control over the reproduction of the herd is especially important. It is necessary to achieve a physiologically justified reduction in the days of infertility, to get at least one calf per year from each cow.

Patriotic and overseas experience show that with a normal physiological status of the herd, by the end of the first month after parting, the postpartum involution of the genital organs is completed and the cyclic activity of the ovaries resumes. Until the end of the second month, two full-fledged stages of excitation of the sexual cycle may appear. Therefore, you should not miss the first hunt in normally calving cows. Physiologically, the optimal period for insemination of cows is considered the 30th-60th days after calving. Reduction up to 60 days. the interval between calving and fertilization allows you to get up to 100 or more calves from every 100 cows per year. At the same time, milk production increases by 10-20%. However, on most farms in the Russian Federation, in the first two months after calving, no more than 40% of cows become pregnant, and the service period varies from 80 to 120 days.

Many years of experience show that there is either no direct relationship between high milk production and fertilization problems at all, or it is very weak. Therefore, the hypotheses according to which high milk production contributes to the deterioration of fertilization are not substantiated.

So, in Israel, with a milk yield of more than 9,000 kg of milk per year, cows calve annually. Currently, the interhotel period averages about 388 days. Cows are inseminated after 60 days. after calving, about 80% of them are fertilized. To reduce the period between two calvings, stimulation of hunting is used in cows if they are within 50 days. after calving they did not come into hunting.

Specialists of the Institute of Biotechnology and Animal Reproduction, and Germany, pay special attention in measures for farmers to improve the reproduction of cattle to timely and thorough monitoring of the detection of estrus and estrus in cows. It is believed that, along with the correct receipt of high-quality sperm and other measures, the timely detection of heat in cows and their insemination affect fertility, pregnancy rates, and, as a result, milk and meat production. In their opinion, two-time control of estrus and hunting during the day, compared with a single one, increases the fertility by 3-6%. A significant influence on the fruitful insemination of cows is provided by the observance of the interval between the detection of heat and the first insemination. The specialists of the Institute believe that with a one-time daily control of heat, the interval between the moment of detection of heat and insemination should be 4-8 hours, and with a double control, if heat is detected in the morning, then insemination is carried out at noon, if heat is determined at noon, then insemination is carried out the next morning .

Usually, one-time insemination is used abroad, but German experts believe that two-time insemination within one hunt increases the pregnancy rate. Of the clinical methods for determining heat, probe bulls are often used. At the same time, it is noted that clinical methods of estrus control can be significantly supplemented with biotechnical control, in particular, with a progesterone test. Special attention refers to the study of the quality of sperm of sires.

SOURCE: "Agro-industrial production: experience, problems and development trends" Overview information

The effectiveness of management depends on the accuracy of determining the time when the cow’s hunting begins. farm business. According to studies, skipping only one favorable period of fertilization for each cow in a farm consisting of 100 heads leads to big losses - a shortage of about 100 centners of milk per year and 6 calves. The article will tell you by what signs to determine the onset of hunting, by what methods they reveal the state when the cow is ready for mating. Readers will learn what problems can arise in determining the readiness of animals to mate.

Hunt duration

Hunting is the state when the cow is ready for mating.. The average duration of this period is 18 hours (sometimes 6-24 hours), it depends on the breed and age of the individual, as well as on other factors, for example, on the time of year. In winter, this state is shorter than in summer.

In order for fertilization to take place, it is necessary not only not to miss the moment when the animal is walking, but also to accurately determine the time of the active phase of the hunt. This period is characterized by three stages:

Early (excitation stage).
Medium (active stage of estrus).
Late (out of heat).

Reference. Experienced farmers recommend inseminating cows precisely in the middle phase of estrus, which coincides with the active stage of hunting. At this time, excitement increases, estrogen levels rise sharply, and progesterone levels fall. After 10-18 hours, ovulation usually occurs, when the follicle opens, an egg comes out of it.

A cow comes into heat after calving in about 30-60 days, sometimes these terms are shifted in one direction or another. If her birth went without complications and the animal is healthy, then mating can be carried out again. By what signs this state is determined and what methods are used in this case, we will consider further.

Methods for determining heat in cows

According to the behavior of the female, it can be assumed that she came into the hunt, but such a diagnosis is not considered the most accurate, since in many animals the picture of excitation is blurred. In addition, if a farmer has a large number of livestock, he is unlikely to be able to follow each individual. The signs of hunting in a cow are as follows:

The animal loses its appetite.
Worrying, wandering, mooing.
A pale pink mucous secretion is secreted from the genitals.
The vagina is a little red and swollen.
The female, being in the hunt, pursues other cows in the herd, makes a cage on them.
He lets the bull approach him, accepts the cage, stands motionless, arching his back.
Increased animal activity.

There are other ways to determine the state of heat, they allow you to control the readiness of cows for mating in large farms Oh:

Temperature measurement.
With the help of test bulls.
instrumental way.
Pedometry.
Leak detector.

These methods are highly efficient. Let's consider each of them in detail.

Body temperature measurement

Before ovulation begins, hormonal changes inevitably occur. In this regard, the body temperature of the cow also changes. In order to notice deviations and accurately determine the time when the state of heat occurs, it is necessary to measure the temperature daily. Before ovulation, it rises by about 0.3 degrees.

Probing Bulls

In farms, they necessarily contain bulls with a sharp instinct. During estrus, cows secrete mucus, from which a special smell spreads. Probing bulls catch it and show interest in an individual ready to mate. If the female accepts a cage of such a bull, she is selected for insemination. This method allows you to accurately determine the state of hunting in cows.

Note. Probing bulls are brought to cows daily for 1.5-2 hours, in the morning and in the evening.

Instrumental method

An instrumental diagnostic method involves taking an animal's mucus for analysis using a special tool. When the level of estrogen reaches its maximum, the mucous secretion acquires a special structure, this can be seen under a microscope. When the hunt ends, ovulation occurs, the mucus looks different, its crystals disintegrate. This method is not always convenient, therefore it is rarely used in Russia and the CIS countries.

Pedometry

When a cow hunts, her physical activity increases. The method of pedometry is just based on this observation. To diagnose the animal, a special device is attached to the limb, which captures the activity. Daily monitoring of the received data allows you to accurately determine when the cow is more mobile, this time coincides with the start of the hunt.

heat detector

Owners of large farms can afford to purchase a special device that helps diagnose the approach of estrus and ovulation. It resembles a large electronic thermometer, the tip of which is inserted into the cow's vagina for 1 minute. Data is displayed on the screen of the device, allowing you to make a conclusion - the cow came to hunt or not. The disadvantage of this technique is the high cost of the device, so the owners of small farms are not interested in buying an estrus detector.

Possible problems

It also happens that the cow does not come to hunt. What does it say:

Too little time has passed, the animal has not yet recovered from childbirth.
The pregnancy has come.
The cow has a quiet estrus (its signs are weakly expressed).
Ovarian cyst.

If there are no signs of estrus after calving, then the animal's body has not yet recovered. This happens if the birth went with complications. It takes time for the hormonal background to return to normal, the sexual cycle to improve.

A cow does not come into heat if she is pregnant again. In this case, this is good news for the farmer. But it doesn't always happen that way. Often, females do not show signs of readiness for mating due to hormonal failure. Such pathologies cause the formation of cysts on the ovaries, which leads to disruption of their normal operation. The causes of hormonal imbalance in cows are:

Bad conditions.
Overfeeding livestock.
Inadequate nutrition.

Attention! Hormonal failure often provokes a false hunt when a cow shows interest in bulls for a long time.

The time when a cow comes into heat after calving, on average, varies between 30-60 days. It depends on the state of health of the cow, on her diet, on how the previous birth went. It is not difficult to determine this period, it is enough to carefully observe the behavior of animals. Owners of large farms should use other methods to determine the readiness of cows for mating - temperature measurement, pedometer, estrus detector, and also use the keen sense of probe bulls.

Keeping and breeding cows is a responsible business. It is necessary to show care and certain knowledge in order for the reproduction of the herd to be successful. It is important to know how long a cow's pregnancy lasts and to be able to calculate the calving date. This is necessary in order to be able to prepare for childbirth and create all the conditions for the normal course of this process.

The pregnancy of a cow, or scientifically pregnancy, lasts, like in humans, for nine months. In terms of days, it turns out 280-285 days. However, a cow can calve before nine months or later. In general, the period of 285 days is quite accurate, deviations from it are rare, but still happen.

The duration of pregnancy depends on the following factors:

Conditions of keeping and care of the cow. Due to poor conditions, childbirth may occur before nine months.
Features of the breed, the animal itself. There are precocious meat breeds, in which the bearing of the calf lasts a few days less, or universal, like.
Gender of the calf. It is believed that females are born 2-3 days earlier.
Cow nutrition. Poor nutrition can lead to an increase in the gestation period by 10-12 days.
Whether the cow is a first-calf or there have already been births.

Important! The normal pregnancy period is 240-310 days. 45% of pregnancies in cows last 280 days, 30% of pregnancies end on days 283-287.

How to determine the date of birth

It is very easy to determine the expected date of calving. It is enough to know the date of insemination. There is a special formula for determining the date of birth:

O \u003d (D + 10) / (H-3)

Here O is the date of calving, D is the date of insemination, H is the ordinal number of the month of fertilization.

For example, if a cow was conceived on May 5, then using the formula it is easy to calculate that the approximate date of birth is February 15.

O = (5+10)/(5-3) = 15 (day) / 2 (month).

If the day is greater than 30, subtract 30 from it and add one to the month number.

Ultrasound diagnosis of pregnancy is carried out a month after insemination.

There is also a calendar of gestation and pregnancy of cows. It is a table with the dates of insemination and calving by month. The results of this table are calculated from the formula above.

You need to know the date of birth in order to prepare for the arrival of the calf, and to know when the animal may need help. And most importantly, 2 months before the birth, it is recommended to stop milking the cow (“start”). A pregnant cow must necessarily be in a dry period before the birth of a calf. This is important for the health of the heifer and calf, as well as for future milk yields. The animal should rest before childbirth and gain strength.

How to tell if a cow is pregnant

Insemination of a cow does not always end in pregnancy, so the question arises of how to determine the pregnancy of an animal. You can find out that a cow is pregnant in different ways:

Calving cow before calving.

Give milk for research. A milk sample is taken on the 20th day after mating and sent to the laboratory.
Bring a bull to the cow several times. If she lost her heat, then the insemination was successful.
It is noted that the pregnant cow becomes calmer, more careful, eats more and does not call the bull. The texture of the coat changes, it becomes smooth and shiny, fits tightly to the body of the heifer.
A clear sign is the abundant secretion of mucus from the genitals.
Outwardly and to the touch, pregnancy can be determined by the 5th month.
A few drops of milk are taken after pumping. They are dropped into the water. If the drops settle to the bottom, and do not dissolve, the animal is dead.
Milk is mixed with medical alcohol in equal proportions. If the milk has curdled, the insemination was successful.
A veterinarian can determine pregnancy one and a half to two months after conception. This is done rectally.
With the help of ultrasound diagnostics. This method is rarely used and only if more than a month has passed after mating. This method allows you to find out how many months of pregnancy have already passed.
Using a progesterone test to diagnose pregnancy. Allows you to find out about pregnancy on the 21st day after mating and set the exact date of insemination.

How is the pregnancy

The ability to get pregnant and carry a calf normally in cows is determined by weight, not age. With a weight gain of 60% of the weight of an adult animal, mating can be carried out. Pregnancy occurs if insemination occurs during ovulation.

A cow can give birth to two or even three calves.

One cow usually gives birth to one calf, but there are cases of calving with two, three and four calves. When several calves are born, they are very weak and small. Single-sex calves develop normally. In the case of heterosexual offspring, heifers may be infertile.

During pregnancy, the cow requires special care:

The stall must be clean. It must be well ventilated and properly lit.
Grazing a pregnant cow is better separately from the herd, especially in recent months.
It is necessary to feed such a cow fully and in sufficient quantities (with the exception of transferring to dead wood). Otherwise, the occurrence or other pathology is possible.

Important! If you suspect illness and complications during pregnancy, you should call a veterinarian. It is not recommended to treat a pregnant cow on your own. It is also necessary to call the veterinarian if, after giving birth, the cow falls and cannot get up. It could be birth paresis.

Signs of imminent calving:

The cow stops eating, drinks little.
Becomes skittish.
The udder increases, the genitals swell and turn blue.
Colostrum appears.
Hanging belly.

With the carelessness of the owner, the cow can calve on the run.

Before calving (5-7 days before the date of birth), the barn is disinfected, the number of bedding is increased, and more attention is paid to the heifer. In order not to miss the start of labor, the cow is often checked these days, including at night.

The beginning of childbirth can be understood from the behavior of the cow, she restlessly walks around the stall, mooing lingeringly, raising her tail, stepping over her feet. The calving process must be monitored and, if necessary, call a veterinarian.

Features of lactation

A pregnant cow can be milked, but up to a certain point. By the 5th month of pregnancy, milk becomes less and less. If the cow continues to give milk, then you can milk it until the 7th month. Next, the cow needs to be launched. If by the 7th month the volume of milk has decreased to 3-4 liters, then you can stop milking immediately. If not, you will need help with the transfer to dead wood. After the milk is gone, it will be necessary to gradually return to the previous diet.

A pregnant cow is provided with a stall and transferred to dry food.

To transfer an animal to dry wood, you need:

Give the cow less to drink;
Feed less, don't give juicy green grass, feed straw and hay instead;
Do not let it graze for a long time (no more than 4 hours).

Attention! 1-2 weeks before giving birth, the cow's udder increases and colostrum begins to stand out - a sweetish transparent substance, with lumps. Before childbirth, milk is bitter.

A pregnant cow needs special care. All 9 months of pregnancy and the calving process itself must take place under the supervision of a livestock breeder and, if necessary, a veterinarian. Proper care and accurate determination of the calving date will allow you to get healthy offspring and good milk yields in the future.

The video tells in detail on behalf of an experienced breeder how to feed and care for a pregnant cow in the last months:

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