Posterior Presentation
     A calf presented backward must be delivered backward. It is not possible to turn a calf around in a cow. Lubricate the fetus and birth canal before delivery is attempted. Place chains above the calf's hocks and attach the calf puller before applying traction. Once the hips enter the birth canal, traction should be rapid and uninterrupted. Alternating traction on the rear legs and rotating the fetus 45° may help. If it is very difficult to get the hips through the pelvic inlet, a caesarian section may be required. This decision should be made before the hips are forced into the birth canal and the life of the calf jeopardized.

     If a calf is presented butt first (breech), the cow often does not enter second-stage labor as point pressure is not exerted within her pelvis to stimulate abdominal contractions. The tip of the calf's tail may be protruding through the vulva or lying in the vagina. The subtle signs of first-stage parturition often go unrecognized, and the cow appears sick or discharges a putrid fluid two or three days later.

     A breech presentation may be relatively easy or very difficult to deal with. Important variables include how soon the problem is recognized, whether or not the cow will stand during manipulation of the fetus, the amount of abdominal space for manipulation, how rigidly the calf's hocks are extended, and how hard the cow strains.

     The calf's hips must be repelled forward, upward, and toward one flank, the hocks flexed, and the feet extended backward into and through the birth canal. It is very helpful if the cow will stand during manipulation of the fetus. The calf should be repelled between labor pains, and care must be taken not to tear the uterus by pushing too hard on the calf. If manipulation is difficult, epidural anesthesia (a local anesthetic injected into the cow's spinal canal) should be administered to stop straining.

     Efforts by the cattleman to assist delivery should be limited to thirty minutes, and should not exceed his technical capabilities. To delay calling a veterinarian when his help is needed can result in unnecessary injury or death of the cow as well as the calf.

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