Watching animals give birth

By Faye
@FayeHazel (40250)
United States
April 20, 2017 4:05pm CST
So, as I was writing about April the Giraffe and her recent birth, and I am reminded of a night where I ended up on the weird side of You Tube.  I was probably looking for April, but I happened along a lot of animal birth videos.  The one that stands out to me is a cow birthing video.  This must have happened at a fair or something, because there is a crowd around with little children, the description says 3rd graders, so they would be 8 years old and up. The announcer explains about the birth process, and about the things the vet is doing.   Let's just say that the vet has a very hands on role in cattle birthing process.  So I suppose - my question is- what is your opinion of people/kids watching the birth of animals?  I hoped that the extra people didn't cause the cow to be nervous, or upset.  I felt sad when the cow bellered in pain and the kids broke out into a wave of laughter.  I don't like watching animals in pain, personally, and don't find it funny.  I am only hoping that they were too young to understand that the animal was hurting. I also felt confused - if you watch the video you'll see that the vet gets quite vigorous pulling and employing a device to yank the calf out.  I hoped that this helped the cow and didn't hurt her. So, I'm not sure how I feel about kids watching this.  I feel bad for the cow and a little upset watching it,  and I'm 35 years old.  So what must kids feel about it?  On the other hand it is a fact of life, it is how we all get here and hopefully watching will instill in the kids a compassion for living things.  Maybe it will guide them into making cautious choices when they come of age to date?  I'm sorry if I put that too bluntly - but I am reminded of my friend.  Her parents had horses and at age 3 she got to watch a horse birth.  My friend has never had children and is in her 40s.  Part of me wonder if that's why?  (maybe not!   I'm sure there are many conditions in her choice.)  Anyway!   Have you ever seen an animal give birth in person?  What do you think about kids watching it? Edit to add: Oh, I should have read the whole description. They said that the vet took a more active role because the cow and calf were in trouble. Alright... makes sense.
3rd grade field trip to a Dairy in Oregon, the kids get a surprise when they see a mama cow give birth on May 5, 2016 NOTE: The baby calf got stuck and in or...
12 people like this
11 responses
@KristenH (33355)
• Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
20 Apr 17
Well, birthing is part of the circle of life. It should be nothing to be laughed at. When they grow up, they would start their own families. Would they laugh at their wives, if you're referring to boys? I think it should be a special moment for famiies to watch together, so the kids can ask questions to their folks. Adult supervision should be a must. Not in person, but I've seen it on TV.
2 people like this
@FayeHazel (40250)
• United States
21 Apr 17
Oh yes, for sure. Mixed group of kids. I certainly hope that the boys wouldn't find it so amusing when it's their (future) wife. Fairly sure the girls wouldn't enjoy a giggly audience if they have kids, either. I sort of felt like kids should be watching this kind of thing with parents , even over a teacher. Same here... never in person.
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@KristenH (33355)
• Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
21 Apr 17
@FayeHazel I agree with you.
@bluesa (15023)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
21 Apr 17
I am sorry to hear the kids laughing when the cow was obviously in pain and would hope someone would explain to them that it is not funny, and they must be compassionate. It would have been a good time to teach them about compassion, but I also hope they were too young to realize she was in pain I am 40 and have never had children because I think this world is too ugly at the moment. But seeing horses give birth might have given your friend second thoughts. I have seen a dog give birth. Depending on the age, I think kids need to see how life works @FayeHazel , but I would say only from 11 years up...
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@bluesa (15023)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
24 Apr 17
@FayeHazel yes, that's what I realised, I would have to prepare that child for life here, I would have to explain so many tough or dark things and truthfully, I just don't have that in me.
@FayeHazel (40250)
• United States
21 Apr 17
There was an adult there doing announcing - I was hoping she would have addressed the laughter bit - but she didn't. :-( So true - it would have been a good teaching moment. I'm 35 - also no kids. Don't want them. Many reasons, but one of which is I agree with you - this world is an ugly place at times. I don't know if I could prepare someone for life here. I think, with more thought I also agree with you. I know watching the video has given me a new respect for living things -- but, hopefully kids should see it at an age that's a little older and with some adults that inform not only about the process and what's happening, but also compassion.
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@epiffanie (11326)
• Australia
21 Apr 17
That poor mama cow wanted to comfort her baby but couldn't ..
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@FayeHazel (40250)
• United States
21 Apr 17
I also found it a little sad that her head was stuck in that... thing? I hope the let her loose soon after.
@LadyDuck (454910)
• Switzerland
21 Apr 17
I have seen animals give birth at my grandparents farm, I already was a teenager, my grandparents did not let my younger cousins watch. Yes, I think that the animal had an extra stress, the prove is that the cow had a difficult birth.
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@LadyDuck (454910)
• Switzerland
22 Apr 17
@FayeHazel My grandparents had goats, bunnies, cows, horses and pigs.
@FayeHazel (40250)
• United States
21 Apr 17
What kind of animals did your grandparents have? Too bad for the cow. I think livestock should be treated as humane as is possible in any given situation.
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@teamfreak16 (43451)
• Denver, Colorado
20 Apr 17
I've never watched anything like that, and have no desire to, but I guess if someone wants to, more power to them.
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@FayeHazel (40250)
• United States
21 Apr 17
Never know - could provide some good teaching moments... could partially traumatize someone... no, I'm being dramatic. I know... it's how we all get here...
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@diosabella (4789)
21 Apr 17
I helped my dad with birthing before. We had cows and sows before and I assisted a lot of times. Most of the time we just let the cow do her thing when she's giving birth. We don't want to upset her or anything. But when she needed the help we pulled it. Just the same with the sow. There were a time I even have to put my hand inside to get the baby piglets out.(I know its gross and all but when your already there and the situation calls it, gross or not I will do it. I had the smallest hand so Dad made me do it. ) As for the laughing, maybe the kids, you know they don't realize how painful it was. They just reacted to the loud mooing and thought it was natural.
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@FayeHazel (40250)
• United States
21 Apr 17
I think that's great. I mean that you've helped out. It makes sense now... I have heard that cows and others can run into problems where assistance is required. Ohh eeeek. I know I wouldn't want to put my hands in a pig to get the babies out... but, like you say if it needs to be done I would do it. Just think - you've had an experience a lot of people haven't. :) I hope that a compassionate adult took time to explain to the kids....
1 person likes this
22 Apr 17
@FayeHazel Yeah. the adult should have make a walkthrough out of it so they will understand too that their mothers had the same experience too when they were giving birth to them. (I hate the gory thing of the blood but most of all the stink. My dad were distracting me that I should think of smelling meatbun instead. )
@AmbiePam (84632)
• United States
25 Apr 17
I would be upset if my 3rd grader saw that. It might be fine for a lot of kids, but I wouldn't like it. I mean wouldn't that give the animal more anxiety having extra people around? I don't care if it's educational, it's not worth stressing out the poor animal.
@MALUSE (69428)
• Germany
7 May 17
I haven't watched an animal give birth. But I know several vets and from them I've learnt that helping a cow or a horse with the birthing process can be hard work. Most vets dealing with cows and horses are men because they're stronger than women.
• Eugene, Oregon
20 Apr 17
I have not, but kids growing up on farms routinely do, so their "physical" education starts early. I come down on the side of it's okay.
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@FayeHazel (40250)
• United States
21 Apr 17
It could provide some good teachable moments, as long as there are some adults around who don't mind answering questions
@nanette64 (20368)
• Fairfield, Texas
21 Apr 17
First of all; that makes me maddern hell @FayeHazel . The mother should not have been restricted; that is NOT how calves are naturally born. It made it much more difficult for the mother for her own contractions to push out the calf. If the calf was in the wrong position in the fetus, the vet could have turned the calf properly way before birth. Using the chains on the calf's legs could also damage them.
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Mar 18
I saw this on the sidebar. I have objections to the cow being held in a bail while she gives birth. She may not have had so much trouble if she'd been allowed to move around and lie down if she wanted to. This is pretty unnatural in my opinion.