CORVALLIS, Ore. — Alberta the cow waited patiently while ranchers crowded around to help her give birth.
This wasn’t a typical delivery — and Alberta isn’t a real cow. She’s a life-size model used to teach how to manage a difficult calving.
Jenifer Cruickshank, Oregon State University Extension Service dairy faculty member, and Charles Estill, an Oregon State University Extension Service veterinarian, recently used the model at Calving School workshops for farm owners and 4-H’ers on the Oregon State campus in Corvallis and in Tillamook.
The model travels the state to help people learn to handle dystocia, a difficult birth often caused by a malpositioned or oversized calf. Alberta is also used to teach artificial insemination.
Oregon State Extension acquired Alberta — a black, headless, legless model — four years ago. It travels the state to help people learn to handle dystocia, a difficult birth often caused by a malpositioned or oversized calf. Alberta is also used to teach artificial insemination.
“Alberta and her reproductive tract aren’t the real deal,” Cruickshank said. “But they are good replicates so folks can practice helping the ‘cow’ have a successful birth. The person can feel the reproductive parts and can get a good feel for how to help the cow go through a difficult birth or how to perform artificial insemination.”
Difficult births can reduce a calf crop. Out of a herd of 100 cows, 85 pregnant, an average of 18% — or 16 cows — are likely to lose calves, and another eight cows will die. With numbers like these, producers turn to Calving School.
Ranchers put skills to work
Morgan and Chad Criss, who run 50 head in Bonanza in Southwest Oregon, attended a workshop at Oregon State. Both said the class expanded their knowledge and they planned to use the tactics they learned.
“When I have a cow in labor, I check her every two hours,” said Chad Criss, who reports only a 3% calf death rate. “I stress through the night. I want things to go right. Anything I can learn that makes me a better rancher, I do it.”
Brady Sweat, who has 100 head near Bonanza, pulled on shoulder-length gloves and prepared to assist Alberta. Guided by Cruickshank, he located the artificial calf, adjusted its position, pulled firmly and guided it out. He smiled.
“Cows can get really big and have big calves,” he said. “It’s more technical to deliver big calves, and I want to handle the births on my own. This helps me know if I’m doing it right because if I am, I won’t lose calves.”
Learning by feel
“I think hands-on helps,” Cruickshank said. “Participants at Calving School are learning information and techniques that will help them be more successful in having healthy calves and cows through the calving process. We told them things, showed them pictures, had them try it hands-on — a multi-modal teaching approach seems effective.”
Whether teaching techniques for difficult births or artificial insemination, Cruickshank aims to help ranchers gain confidence and improve financial security.
“It gets at the black box where you really can’t see,” she said. “It’s good practice to feel with your hands and interpret what your hands are telling you. People go away from Calving School with some really good hands-on experience, and Alberta is a big part of that.”
Previously titled OSU Extension’s model cow helps ranchers deal with difficult births
