Incidence of birth problems

[Olga]

The purpose of this thread is for breeders to voluntarily share the frequency with which they've encountered any type of abnormal deliveries or abnormal calves. Share your personal experiences only. If you have a question about someone's experience, please email or p.m. them; or start a new thread about a particular case/type of issue.
Please post the year when you first acquired Dexters.
If possible, post the total number of Dexter calves (not cross-bred) born at your farm.
Identify the problem you've encountered.
Thank you.

[Olga]

Dexters since: 2004
Total calves: 18
Type of problem: one true breech (normal bull calf was delivered dead after a prolonged delivery)

[ctownson]

For the period 2010-2012:

Total Calves Born: 42
Problem Births: 1
This calf had one front leg turned so the presentation was somewhat at an angle and the shoulders would not clear until the leg was adjusted and properly aligned. Calf was born alive and healthy with assistance.

[cddexter]

Dexters since 1982
Total calves: approx. 240
non-dwarf breeder
Problem births: 2
1. leg back, vet pulled, calf lived 1987
2. heifer very small, calf large, vet pulled, calf died 2011
all other births unassisted, usually unobserved

[hamonsdexter]

i am new to dexters. I have had 2 Births on my farm of dexters. 1 out of two had to be assisited. This is not a fare rpersentation since it was an inherited problem. I had bought a yearling heifer and she ended up being breed. Based on back dating she was breed when she was 5 to six month old. The Calf had to pull and both were ok. We will she in a couple month if she is breed back.

[ssrdex]

First dexters in 4/09
8 calves-4 heifers, 4 bulls
No problems, no assistance needed



Joel

[rhonda]

I think since 2007..10 calves (including 1 by marauding Angus) no assistance needed by any-- But 1 calf that died before I found it.

[legendrockranch]

Since 2003
Total calves 97

Chondro free and PHA free herd

Birthing problems: 4,
1. Year 2004, dogs (not mine) running heavy bred cow she went down a ditch, we found her got her out 2 weeks later she aborted.

2. Purchased a young heifer not of breeding age who was supposed to be open. On the road for over a week. Layover in another state before being transported here, another 2 days on the road. Aborted a premature approximately 7 month of calf.
after being here 3 weeks.

3. 2011, first time heifer, backwards calf pulled, calf survived.

4. 2011, 5 year old cow, backwards calf, very little help need, she could have popped it out herself. Calf survived.

[Clive]

Since 2006, we've had 220 calves, half to Dexter bulls, half to Angus. Had about 5 backwards, 1 normal but one leg back, 1 full breech unfortunately born dead, 1 born "in the bag" when I wasn't there, 3 normal presentation but twisted, and 1 bulldog when we didn't realise how that worked. Only had to use a jack once on a backward calf (Angus put to a heifer by accident) and that was mainly due to it being 4 am in the morning and -14C.

Great calving breed.

PS. (edited) had quite a few biggish, normally presented calves that I have helped even if they maybe didn't need help, but I haven't kept records of those. Also had 2 sets of twins born completely unaided.

[northstar]

After L.C.'s calf was born so easily, I was feeling complacent. But last night, when she went into labor, I laid out the pull straps, towels, Heather Smith's book (I can't remember who suggested it last year, but it paid for itself many times over last night). After L.C. was in labor for 2 and a half hours, and it seemed like no progress, the book says 2-4 hours of labor, I called my neighbor, Otto. He was only 10 minutes away, and a few minutes after he got here, little back feet poked out. In two minutes, I had her in the headgate, he had the straps on the calf's feet, and was pulling. We could see meconium on the legs, and knew it was in distress, but he had her out in a few minutes. I thought she was dead, but she took some gasps, and I rubbed, and L.C. licked, and had her up in 15 minutes. I think another two or three minutes, and I would have had a dead calf-I don't know and don't want to find out. So I guess the moral is- hope for the best, and prepare for the worst. The other thing I learned, I had put down fresh wood shaving that morning, and a wet, sticky calf in wood shavings is like a halibut fillet dipped in panko. Of course, all the rubbing to get the shaving off, stimulated her to come around.
So 2 births, one easy-one needed assistance.
Marsha

[Fran]

Got our first bred Dexter heifer in 2009.
Have had 9 births - all unassisted (thank you, Jesus!)
2 bull calves and 7 heifers.
Most of the births I don't even see.

[northstar]

I've been putting off writing this for weeks. I still can't talk about it without crying. After taking L.C. to the bull four times this summer, and his visiting for three weeks, the vet did an internal exam. She has so much scar tissue covering her cervix, that she can't rebreed. He thought it was from the last birth, but I think it started with the breech calf, Skye, that Otto had to pull. At the time, I thought it might damage her. She rebred three months later, and the last calf, we had to pull, even though he wasn't any bigger than the first two, and was well positioned. I think the scar tissue started after the breech, and that was why we had to pull the last one. The vet says it is rare, but I think most big breeders would just cull a cow that didn't breed back, and wouldn't know why.
I barely have room for one cow, and with hay at $500 a ton, I can't justify keeping one as a pet. I've asked Otto to butcher her, as I know she won't be scared or hurt.
I know it's hard to lose any animal, but when you only have one, and have milked for 3 years, it's especially tough.
Marsha

[Fran]

Oh my gosh, Marsha, how sad for you!!! I am so sorry! I don't milk any of mine yet, but know I would be heartbroken if something like this happened. So sorry!!
Fran

[midhilldexters]

Marsha that just sucks, so sorry to hear about LC. It's good you have Otto close by. Will you get another cow or just not bother?

Carol K

[zephyrhillsusan]

Marsha, I'm so terribly sorry! Having been milking mine for over a year now, I just can't imagine what you're going through. You share such a special relationship while milking. It's just heart-breaking. Bless you for not sending her to a sale and for taking care of her up to the last minute. Sending hugs your way,
Susan