Calves are creative creatures, and anyone who has done calvings knows they can find any number of interesting positions to cause a problem to the cow when they enter the world. Occasionally though, the issue lies not with the calf itself, but actually with the uterus.

Uterine torsions occur when the body of the uterus twists around at the level of the cervix and can range from 90 to 360 degrees. The twist both narrows the birth canal, and prevents the cervix from dilating properly. Cows with a uterine twist are basically stuck in stage 1 of labour (cervical dilation) and will not be able to progress to stage 2 (birth of the calf) until the twist is corrected.

In a partial or “open” twist, the cervix will be partially dilated, and you will be able to feel the calf. However the calf will often be either on its side or upside down. The twist may be difficult to distinguish from a poorly dilated cervix, but you may find that your arm drops away to the left or right as you enter the cow. These cows can often be untwisted standing, your vet may untwist them by hand, or using a Gyn stick or torsion rod.

In a complete or “closed” twist, the uterus has twisted down to a complete closure, which can easily be confused with a closed cervix. Cows with a twist of this severity either need to be cast and rolled (essentially rolling the cow around the calf) or have a c section. The key to a successful roll is having plenty of hands to help.

Once untwisted, the next problem to tackle is a poorly dilated cervix. Think of the calf as a loaf of bread, the uterus as a bread bag, and the cervix as the bread tag. Even if you untwist the bread bag, you can’t get to the bread without removing the tag! In a live or freshly dead calf, there is often a good chance the cervix will dilate. With a rotten calf, the chance of dilation is very low and prognosis is poor.

Always consider the possibility of a twisted uterus if a cow is not progressing as quickly as you expect. These cows will not tend to visibly strain or push because the calf is not able to enter the birth canal. Early detection and correction will always give the best chance of a good outcome.