Dr. Jennifer Pearson from the University of Calgary joins the podcast to discuss when to intervene in calvings and the consequences of dystocia in beef cows and calves.

BCRC Web Link: Calving 911: When and How to Assist with a Difficult Birth https://www.beefresearch.ca/blog/calf-911-calving-decision-tree/

00:00 – 2:42 Welcome and Introductions

2:43 – 4:25 What does the term dystocia mean?

4:26 – 7:08 What should a normal calving look like?

7:09 – 8:30 What signs should we look for to identify cows that need assistance?

8:31 – 10:20 How common are dystocias in beef cows currently in Canada?

10:21 – 14:35 What are the consequences to the calf and cow of experiencing calving difficulty?

14:36 – 16:44 How to decide when to intervene in a calving?

16:45 – 21:15 When do we need to call for assistance?

21:16- 24:45 What can we do to ensure better outcomes once the calf is delivered?

24:46 – 27:09 Preventing dystocias from occurring

27:10 – 28:00 Wrap up

Assisting cows at calving with Dr. Jennifer Pearson