From the archive record
Blood and gore all right, but this is a real birds and bees story, fit even for kids to watch. How a cow is born. Getting down to the basics. For educational and animal husbandry purposes. The signs of parturition (birth process) are: The udder of the cow enlarges 1 to 2 weeks before calving. This is not a reliable sign in heifers as their udders begin to develop half way through pregnancy.Colostrum is produced (a creamy or pink secretion from the udder). Then pelvic ligaments relax and finally vulva swells (up to six times its normal size) and becomes flabby. White, stringy mucous is secreted from the vagina. The birth process can be divided into three stages: The muscles of the wall of the uterus begin to contract. These contractions occur about every 15 minutes and last from 15 to 30 se