@NanaKat I saw a cow in an unmistakeable stance of labor from the car while on a road trip the other day. I started wondering how your calving season is going. Last you posted you had 20. Are you expecting any more?
That labor stance is definitely unmistakeable!
Ours will do a walk about for most of the day before they get their balloon then the real business begins. The I'm up, no, I'm down routine starts. Usually a calf is born within an hour of seeing feet. Most of ours are born while mom is down on her side.
We are now at 23 with another 22 due before June 30. Ten of those are first time Moms that were held for breeding for calves due beginning April 1...so the weather is warmer and there is plenty of green grass. We wait to put our heifers with a bull until they are 18 to 20 months old because we want the moms to have good growth themselves before calving. This also means fewer calving problems.
We move the first-timer to the lot by the barn when she shows signs she is ready and we are prepared to assist when needed. We also keep an eye on the baby to make sure it gets that first milk from the inexperienced mother. Fortunately we have not had many issues over the years.
Serious cases like a malposition birth we load up to the vet. We are getting too old to pull them ourselves.