Birthing Aids: Quick Help for Calves, Lambs and Piglets

Birthing Aids: Prepared for the Calving Season

Most births go through without anyone stepping in. But when things stick, the kit has to be to hand and clean straight away. With birthing aids ready and waiting you pull in a controlled way instead of improvising, and you spare both dam and offspring. The range covers cattle, sheep, goats and pigs, from the calving jack through ropes and hooks to the aftercare.

Pulling the calf: jacks and ropes

For cattle there are the HK calving jacks 2020 and 2060, either with a flexible breech frame or with a plastic breech support that sits well against the cow's pelvis. The ratchet lets you apply the pull in small steps and work in time with the contractions. Keep spare ropes in pairs, so a clean set is always ready. Calving ropes for calves and foals go on above the fetlocks, and plenty of lubricant gel goes with them. VetGel makes the birth canal slippery and reduces friction on skin and mucous membrane. Hobbles and the hip clamp for cattle help afterwards, when a cow is unsteady on her feet following a hard calving.

Piglets, lambs and the first care

With smaller stock the work is finer. The birthing hook for pigs and sheep and the Antonius birthing snare for piglets and lambs reach where there is too little room for a hand. For lambing there is also a lambing aid of its own. If a calf breathes poorly after birth, the Dr Bron resuscitator pump supports those first breaths. Splay leg bands steady piglets whose hind legs slide out on a smooth floor. The heat detector belongs to the round before all this, because knowing the service date also tells you when the birth is due and lets you check in good time.

Frequently asked questions

When should I step in during a birth?
When straining goes on for a long time without progress, the calf is presented wrongly or the dam is clearly exhausted. Check the presentation first. If you are unsure or cannot correct it, call your vet before you apply any pull.

How much pull is reasonable?
Pull only during a contraction and always slightly downwards, towards the cow's hocks. The calving jack is there to meter the force, not to replace it. If nothing moves despite correct presentation, it is a job for the vet.

How do I prepare the equipment?
Ropes and chains get cleaned, disinfected and stored dry after every use. Lubricant gel, disposable gloves, warm water and a bucket belong within reach in the calving pen.