The Sunday News
Mhlupheki Dube
I OFTEN get enquiries about an in-calf cow which has become recumbent and is failing to rise on its own. The farmer will be worried naturally because he/she will be looking at a possible loss of two animals.
Half the time he/she has no idea what the cause is, and on further investigations it always turns out to be a nutritional issue more than it is a disease issue. Suffice to say such a cow if not properly managed it will have other follow-up complications if by some chance it manages to pull through the pregnancy term.
It is likely to be a dystocia candidate which is my subject matter today, however, looking at goats in particular. Dystocia refers to difficult calving or kidding and it is more common in cattle than it is on goats and sheep. Indications of a possible dystocia situation in your goats is when you see your doe failing to rise on its own or even move around the veld.
Some does especially those carrying multiple births, that is twins or triplets, can become so heavy to the point of failing to help themselves especially if they are not managed nutritionally. Farmers that are practising controlling breeding where the buck is not always running with does, you may consider flushing your does just at the beginning of your breeding season. This means giving your does high energy diets so that you push them to a body score condition of at least three. Flushing may, however, be difficult for many smallholder goat producers who have their buck always running with the does.
In such cases it is therefore important to always ensure your does are in good body condition score so that you will not have nutritional problems in that last trimester of the pregnancy.
Early gestation stage is low maintenance for as long as adequate hay or pasture is available, no additional nutrition is required. Seventy percent of foetal growth happens in the last six weeks of gestation. Dry matter intake requirements will increase with body mass and so will protein requirements. Most does and ewes cannot maintain this surge on nutrient requirements on hay/pasture alone, hence the need to supplement your pregnant does and ewes during the last trimester.
It will be important to provide additional energy in the form of grain or concentrates during the last six weeks of gestation.
Now while poor nutritional status will contribute to a difficult birth as your doe will be too weak to push the kid out, there are a number of reasons for dystocia even in perfectly fed does or ewes.
These are foetal malposition, incomplete dilation of cervix (ringwomb), more than one baby in birth canal, uterine inertia and foetal/maternal size mismatch. It is therefore critical to observe your doe or ewe which is due for delivery so as to watch out for signs of a possible dystocia situation.
A doe which is going into labour may leave the flock, be restless and urinate more frequently. Once the delivery process starts, it should be over in less than two hours. When delivery begins you need to observe presentation of the kid or lamb to be sure that it is coming out in a normal way.
It is usually the front legs first then the head and in this case the back of the kid is touching the back of the doe. This is a normal delivery and hence there should be no problem experienced. There is also what is called the caudal presentation where the kid comes back feet first.
This is also a normal delivery, it should not worry the farmer. A breech which presents kidding complications is when the kid comes with hind feet tucked under its belly, you will need a veterinary officer or experienced person to help properly orient the kid and allow for delivery.
There are a number of foetal malposition presentations that lead to dystocia such as one leg folding under the kid or the head is facing backwards and many other orientations. While foetal malposition is often the cause for dystocia, ring womb may be the cause sometimes.
This refers to a situation where the cervix fails to dilate enough to allow for foetal expulsion.
Manual dilation by experience veterinarian can be tried or injecting with an oxytocin hormone. The important management component is that you have to be close by observing so that you can hand timely assistance when needed.
Uyabonga umntakaMaKhumalo.
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