Summary
Properly using snares and chains is essential for safely assisting in calf delivery, ensuring correct application to avoid harm.
Highlights
🎶 Understanding the importance of snares and chains for calf delivery.
🐄 Techniques to gain control of the calf’s head using snares or chains.
🚫 Avoiding neck loops to prevent choking during the process.
✅ Properly applying chains to ensure safe delivery without breaking bones.
⚙️ Utilizing a calf jack when necessary for additional support.
🩺 Always seek veterinary help for abnormal presentations.
📈 Experience plays a crucial role in effective assistance during delivery.
All videos in Calving Assistance series
Author
Heather Schlesser
County Dairy Educator – Heather Schlesser is an Agriculture Educator in Marathon County. Heather’s research and outreach have included the use of current technology to enhance farm profitability and sustainability. Her current projects include the Animal Wellbeing Conference, the Midwest Manure Summit, Beef Quality Assurance, financial programming, and teaching farmers throughout the Midwest how to breed their own cattle.
Transcript
Using Snares and Chains When Assisting Cattle in the Birthing Process (transcript)
In the course of the calf delivery process, either normally or abnormally. There are times when applying a snare or chains to assistant the delivery will be necessary. Understanding how to correctly snare or gain control of the head and properly apply chains to the feet is critical to a safe calf delivery.
To gain control of the head position, the snare or a loop of chain created by threading one end of a six inch chain through the oval opening at one end of the chain over both ears and through the mouth of the calf. Do not allow the snare or chain to loop around the calf’s neck as this will choke the calf and may move the head out of the proper position.
Do not apply the snare or loop of chain to the jaw only as this may break the calves jaw and teeth as pressure is applied while pulling. In an anterior position make a loop by threading some of the chain into the oval opening at either end. Although shorter chains are commonly used in this video, we are using a sixty inch chain.
Slip the loop over the calves, foot above the joint, then make a half hitch by twisting the chain to create a loop and wrap the loop around the area between the dew claw and hoof. Now you’re pulling from two places on the leg, which spreads the chains. Pressure created while pulling across two points, making it less likely to cause the bone to break. When you pull, the toe should bend back slightly to gain additional leverage.
Position a 60 inch chain onto the front legs when the elbow becomes visible. Reapply the first loop above the elbow and make a half hitch around the area above the calves leg just above the joint. In a posterior presentation, slip the loop over the calves of rear foot above the joint using the same half hitch procedure as with the front legs.
If needed to gain additional leverage, position a sixty inch chain when the hock becomes visible. First loop above the hock, then make a half hitch around the area above the calves leg just above the joint. If you’re having trouble pulling the calf using the chains alone, a calf kick can help. Provided you understand how to use the calf.
Jack correctly. Understanding how to use snares and chains and how best to assist in a cow’s delivery is based on experience as well as the indicators demonstrated in this video. Always seek veterinary assistance if unsure how to proceed with abnormal presentations.
