Difficult calf birth: the Causes and how can it be avoided

Larger breeds of cattle, like Friesians, have larger pelvic areas and can produce calves with heavier birth weights than smaller breeds.

Dear Daktari, I am Josephat Karanja from Naivasha. My cow recently had a difficult birth and I was forced to call a veterinary doctor to assist with the process. It was successful but it left me with more questions than answers. Did I do anything wrong in terms of nutrition, animal health, or negligence? Could you write about what causes this and how it can be prevented or reduced? Thanks, [Josephat Karanja - Karagita, Nakuru County]

Dystocia is the term used for a difficult birth that requires assistance for the delivery of the calf. Dystocia is one of the factors affecting the survival of a calf. It can result in injuries to the dam or the calf, weakness or death of the calf, and reduced subsequent reproductive performance. Therefore, it is important to try as much as possible to reduce the chances of dystocia.