Parturition Module

AnS 536
Spring 2015

We need to be able to picture what is going on

on the inside by what we see on the outside

Do not intervene the process unless

absolutely necessary

Humans

Cattle

Gestation length: 283 days

Swine

Gestation length: 280 days

Gestation length: 114 days

During Gestation:

Progesterone levels remain high

Humans

Keeps uterus in a stage of inactivity (dormant)

Maintains pregnancy
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) responsible for maintaining
corpus luteum (CL)
CL produces progesterone

Third Trimester = late gestation

Uterus becomes more excitable

Hormone levels change

Before Parturition, Focus on

Environment
Keep the pen clean, dry and well ventilated

Swine:

The farrowing pen temperature should be approximately 20 C

and the piglets nest area, 30 to 32 C

Canadian studies in 2002 reported a 20% reduction in piglet mortality when a

second heat lamp behind the sow provided a zone at 31 C during farrowing.

Cleanliness

of stall and perineal region of mother is KEY to keeping

neonate healthy
Prevents sepsis, umbilical infection
If not, increased exposure to any fecal- orally transmitted pathogens=
increase in mortality

Clean perineal region vs. Dirty

Clean environment vs. Dirty

Hormonal Mechanisms Controlling

Parturition

In general, these physiological events occur

during parturition:
Dilation

of cervix
Contractions of the uterus
Progesterone levels decrease
CL and placenta increase production of relaxin

Hormonal Mechanisms Controlling

Parturition

Cattle
Nearing

Fetal adrenal gland matures and fetal cortisol levels increase

dramatically initiating the cascade leading to parturition
Estradiol increases

Contraction of the uterus

Oxytocin production

Stimulates vaginal and cervical mucous secretion

Prostaglandin increases

term

Caused by increased pressure on the cervix, further increases

contractions

Relaxin production

Relaxes pelvic ligaments

Hormonal Mechanisms Controlling

Parturition

Cattle cont
Muscular

contractions continue to increase

Pressure causes membrane rupture

Fetus

begins to move into the birth canal

Fetus becomes hypoxic
Increases fetal movement
Increased muscle contraction and expulsion of
fetus

Hormonal Mechanisms
Controlling Parturition

Sows
Parturition

is initiated by increased cortisol levels,

which also stimulate release of prostaglandin (PG) F2
from the uterus.
PGF2 causes luteolysis of the corpora lutea and
release of relaxin.
Oxytocin is released from the pituitary gland, which
causes uterine contractions and onset of labor.

Process of Parturition

Three separate stages

Stage

1: Cervical dilation
Stage 2: Delivery of the fetus
Stage 3: Expulsion of the placenta

Process of Parturition

Stage I
Uterine contractions:

Myometrial ischemia: decreased blood flow to myometrium

of uterus

Causes release of potassium, bradykinin, histamin, serotonin

Cervical dilation

Cervical opening expands to a maximum of 10 cm

Longest stage of labor

Lasting a few hours up to 24 hours

Cervix dilates with increased pressure from the fetus

Normal presentation fetal head applies pressure

Fetal head is the largest circumference among the body besides

shoulders

Abnormal presentation pressure on cervix may not be as great to

promote maximum cervical dilation needed for fetal passage- can lead
to dystocia

Process of Parturition

Stage II Delivery of the fetus

Occurs

once cervical dilation is complete

Fetus is able to pass through cervix and vagina
Fetal passage triggers stretch receptors in the vagina
activating a neural reflex

Triggering contraction of the abdominal wall in synchrony

with uterine contractions
Increased force pushes fetus through birth canal
Additional voluntary force via abdominal muscle

Complete

passage through the canal

Fetus is still attached via umbilical cord

Umbilical cord is severed after complete delivery

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lN4DTps8Iuo

Sows or other litter-bearing species..

Piglets are usually delivered at frequent
intervals (1015 min; 545 min range).
Uterine horn evacuation is random .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iN4lK
CiOGVE

Human Pelvis

Human Fetal Presentations

Cow Pelvis

Normal Calf Presentation

Abnormal Calf Positions

Process of Parturition

Stage III Expulsion of the Placenta

Occurs

shortly after delivery

Varies among species

Second

wave of uterine contractions occur

Separate the placenta from the uterus

Expelled through the vagina
Uterine contractions constrict blood vessels
supplying site of placental attachement

Prevent bleeding

Shortest

stage of delivery

Dystocia

Noted when difficult, prolonged, or abnormal

parturition occurs
Physical

signs of dystocia:

Cattle: anything other than two front feet showing, ex;

only one foot, two rear feet
Lots of blood or meconium in amniotic fluid or on
neonate
Neonate has its tongue sticking out

It is lacking muscle tone, is a color other than pink

Swine..
Incidence of dystocia is low (12%)
According to the Journal of Swine Health and
Production: Obstetrical intervention is indicated if

30

to 45 minutes have passed since the last piglet

was born
if 24 hours have passed since the first signs of
impending parturition were observed and no piglets
have been born
if the sow is not able to farrow despite strong uterine
contractions.

Dystocia

Contributing factors:
Presentation

of fetus greatly affects the degree of

dystocia

Breech births, etc.

Large

birth weight
Small maternal pelvic measurements
First parity mothers

First-calf beef heifers have 16.7% dystocia vs 2.7% seen in

cows

Dystocia

Contributing factors cont

Fetal

abnormalities

Genetic mutations

Maternal

Seen in recipient dams carrying cloned fetuses

Maternal

failure to recognize onset of parturition

health and/or body condition score

Affects the stress and health of fetus

Labor may be untimely, too early

Avoiding fetal mortality:

Timely

recognition of problems
Proper assistance in labor process

As with all polytocous species, uterine

inertia accounts for most dystocia in swine
Other causes: fetal malposition,
obstruction of the birth canal, deviation of
the uterus, fetopelvic disproportion, and
maternal excitement.

Managing Dystocia

Forceps assisted vaginal delivery (humans)

Vacuum assisted vaginal delivery (humans)
Calf jack to pull calf out of birth canal
Cesarean section
Performed

often in humans

Compromised delivery
Mothers can opt for c-sections

Livestock

Often used as a last resort

Cause scarring in the uterus

Incurred veterinary cost is high

Difficult for the animal to breed back

Drugs such as oxytocin, prostaglandin, and corticoids are

administered

Force of Assistance

Pulling force should not exceed 150 pounds for Holstein and 75 pounds for
Jersey
Assist in dilation prior to pulling (5 minutes)
Use appropriate lubricant (not soap and water)
Watch your time and assess the calf condition
One person pulls with ~100-150 pounds of force
Two people pull with ~300 pounds of force
600 pounds of force will fracture femur
Calf jack can generate 1500-2000 pounds of force
Apply minimal force during contractions pull calf so head is pushing on the
cervix between contractions to speed up cervical dilation
Pull calf straight out until head delivered
Deliver shoulders and body at 30 to 400 angle
Stop assistance after last rib and allow dam to expel fetus

Assistance prior to full cervical dilation or the

use of excessive force is associated with a high
incidence of rib fractures (~40%) and a lower
incidence of front leg and vertebral fractures
(~10%)

Calf Jack and OB Chain Use

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HyAp
xVijCU
calf jack

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aIcn
LBXdL0
OB chain placement

Piglet Dystocia Management

Managing Dystocia

Litter bearing animals

First

sleeve and physically check

First of several fetuses can be stuck in the birth canal

Can compromise the rest of the litter

Survivability declines with added time of stress

Canine

Differ from large animal and humans

Small animals are put under general anesthesia

and feline C-sections

Better restraint of animal, fastest and safest way to deliver

Cattle and humans epidural anesthesia

Dystocia Impacts:

Calves:

severe acidosis compared to a normal, unassisted birth

Depressed central nervous system
Decreased physical activity and reduced shivering results in more
heat loss and hypothermia.
Suckling and the consumption of colostrum may not occur or be
severely reduced
3.2% of unassisted calves (score of 1) were stillborn compared with
8.4% of calves stillborn with a slight assistance with no jack (score
of 2), and 37.2% of calves stillborn with use of jack (score of 3)

Affect on COWS:
calving

dystocia reduces milk production,

reproductive performance and cow survival
and can consequently reduce farm profitability

Swine:
A 2013

study showed that: Sows that had a

long duration of farrowing (>300 minutes)
have higher repeat breeding rate (pregnant
vs. not pregnant at first insemination after
weaning

Induction of Parturition

Protocols depend upon:

Length

of gestation
Size and development of fetus

Cattle
Long

acting corticosteroids

Lead to parturition in 2-26 days

Wide time range can be disadvantageous
May have detrimental effect on dam influencing
preexisting health condition
Fetal membrane retention is low

Induction of Parturition

Short acting corticosteroids

Frequently

used, very effective

Injected within 2 weeks of due date
Parturition usually occurs in 24-72 hours
Colostral immunoglobulins are normal
Influence fetal lung development
Retained fetal membranes are high

Also related to gestational age of calf: younger calf

= high incidence of retained membranes

Induction of Parturition

Prostaglandins
Effective

method
No advantage over corticosteroids

Estrogens
Old

method
Poor efficacy

Induction of Parturition

Combinations
Goal:

reducing rate of retained placentas,

avoiding induction failures and calf mortality
Short acting corticosteroids + estrogen
Long acting corticosteroids + short acting
corticosteroids or prostaglandins
Short acting corticosteroids + prostaglandin

Multiple Pregnancies

Greater demand on the mother and

increased risk on fetus
Nutritional

demand is higher
Iron and folate needs increase
Anemia is reported more frequently
Morbidity and mortality of twins is higher
compared to singleton pregnancies

Increased risk of delivering prematurely

Multiple Pregnancies

Mode of delivery can be more difficult

Plays

major role in infant outcome, especially

second born twins
Cesarian-cesarian
Vaginal-vaginal
Vaginal-cesarian

Vaginal-cesarian

mode is most detrimental to

second born twin

Presentation and birth weight of twins greatly
affects mode of delivery and outcome of infant

Multiple Pregnancies

Congenital defects
Neural

tube defects
Cardiac abnormalities
Bowel atresia

Other problems:
Conjoined

twins
Twin reversed arterial perfusion sequence
Poor fetal growth
Placentation
Amniocity
Freemartin (cattle)

Multiple Pregnancies

Animals designed to carry singleton pregnancies:

Humans
Cows
Mares

Animals designed to carry multiple pregnancies:

Sows
Ewes
Queens
Bitches
Rodents

Management of Calving

Group Calving Pros:

Saves labor and saves money

Herd animals do not like to be isolated
Presence of other cows calving stimulates other cows

Group Calving Cons:

Changing social dynamics

Biosecurity: transfer of fecal-oral pathogens
Herd animals when calving prefer to isolate themselves and cant
Other cows can get maternally aggressive to other calves that are not
theirs
Calves can get injured and stepped on by other interested cows
More cows together= less individual attention especially with dystocia
If individual attention is needed, harder to safely assist

Individual Calving Pros:

Can monitor cows individually for issues and feed intake

Minimize biosecurity issues
Only one cows pathogen, only one to two calves exposed
No identification issues
Safer for cow and workers if assistance is needed
Safer environment for calf after birth

Individual Calving Cons:

More cost, more labor

Isolation is stressful for herd animals- especially heifers

Management of Farrowing

Stalls/crates:
Con:

sows are completely restrained, thus

less exercise for sows
Pros: stall/crate can protect pigs better,
reduce labor in cleaning/handling, economize
utilization of the space, assist sows/pigs
easily, and eliminate or reduce the use of
bedding

Pens:
Con: requires more cleaning labor, more
space, and sows must be restrained for any
physical treatment
Pros: but they allow more sow movement &
pens can be converted into nursery or
growing pens