Why Cattle Farmers Should Invest In Portable Ultrasound Machines
Cow farmers know how difficult it can be to bring a calf to a healthy birth. However, many may not know how helpful a portable ultrasound can be for eliminating this problem. Here's why cattle farmers across the nation should consider purchasing one of these useful machines.
Pregnancies Aren't Always Smooth With Cows
When cows are pregnant with calves, they often suffer from problems known as dystocia. These are various forms of pregnancy complications that can either cause a stillborn calf or problems with physical or mental health. These problems vary heavily based on what causes them and how the cow is affected after it is born.
For example, an abnormal position during birth could make it impossible to get the calf out without it dying. Even worse, uterine torsion or poor dilation of the cervix could further complicate the birth. These issues can seriously affect the health of a cow and the bank book of the farmer who is helping give birth to them.
Problematic Pregnancies Can Be Costly
When a cow suffers from a problematic pregnancy, there is an increased chance that the calf will either be stillborn or suffer from birth defects. This is a more serious problem than many might think. For example, a prime cow in perfect health can bring a farmer about $1,642 or so when it gets sold. A stillborn cow is basically worth nothing while one with birth defects or physical handicaps may be worth much less.
As a result, a farmer needs to have the ability to identify potential problems quickly in a cow during its pregnancy. Doing so would help make it possible to find issues before they become serious and point a veterinarian in the right direction towards fixing it. A good portable ultrasound machine is one way that this situation can be quickly and easily assessed.
How A Portable Ultrasound Machine Can Help
Any serious farm should use a portable ultrasound machine to regularly inspect the growing calf inside of their heifer. These machines are designed to be easy to use and can give the farmer a multi-angle view inside of their cow. Without this machine, the calf inside could be suffering from serious problems that could make it impossible for it to be born healthy.
While these machines aren't cheap, it more than pays for itself when a cow is born healthy and raised to full adulthood. Selling two or three cows at decent prices should be more than enough to cover the cost of this long-lasting machine. That said, it's likely to be used to help birth dozens of healthy calves during its lifetime.