How to Observe the Birth of a Calf
How to Observe the Birth of a Calf
One of the most precious things to see in life is the birth of a newborn animal--in this case, a baby calf.  The act of a calf being born is called calving, and is a time (referred to as calving season) that heralds the presence of new life on a farm or ranch. Observing the birth of a calf, for a cattle producer, is an act that involves not just enjoying the coming of a new addition, but to watch and see if a calving cow is having any troubles. For the individual that doesn't own a farm or ranch or is involved in the operations of a cattle farm/ranch, or even is a beginner farmer, the proper way to observe a cow giving birth follows below.
Steps

See if there is a cow that is ready to calve. You can tell if she's really close to dropping a calf on the ground if there's a water sac hanging down or a couple of hooves sticking out from her vulva. More information on how to tell if a cow is ready to give birth can be seen in the article How to Tell if a Cow is About to Give Birth.

Find an inconspicuous spot where you can watch the cow. She will usually go off by herself to give birth, so it's best to find a spot where you can watch her where she either won't see you, or you're far enough away that you're not disturbing her. Be aware that you can never be in an area where she doesn't know you're there, because she will know, but will be too busy with the delivery of a new calf to bother with you. If you are watching a cow calve in a barn, this still applies as a cow usually won't calve on her own if there are people actively watching or disturbing her. It's just like with a woman giving birth--she certainly wouldn't appreciate it if she were giving birth to a baby with a bunch of onlookers gawking at her or disturbing her in some way.

Find a comfortable place to sit, or bring a lawn chair. Calving doesn't take a few seconds, it can take anywhere from around 30 minutes to several hours, so having a place to sit and relax while you wait is better than being sore from standing or squatting the whole time.

Wait and watch. Cows have their own time to keep, and will never go by your time, so you will need to be patient, very quiet, and ever watchful.

Take pictures or video, if necessary. It's always neat to see the pictures or video of a cow giving birth and sharing it with others, or reviewing it yourself.

Once the cow is finished and the calf is on the ground, leave them alone. As mentioned above, she will know that you're there, and there's a chance that she may not mother up to the calf right away as needed if you disturb her, even if you think you are not.

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