Case Study From Conception To Calving

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From Conception to Calving
What’s going on in There?
Calving can be both an exciting and stressful time. Many resources have been devoted to ensuring both the dam and calf will be healthy members of the lactating herd and nursery barn. Between conception and calving, there is a lot of behind the scenes work going on inside the uterus. Like humans, a bovine fetus undergoes distinct developmental milestones.

Month 1 (9-10 millimetres)
Day 0: the fetus is conceived either through the use of a bull or AI
Day 19: the embryo attaches to the uterus
Day 20-22: a heartbeat can be detected
Day 25: limb buds begin to form and placentation starts

Month 2 (5-8 centimetres)
Day 30: udder tissue begins to form is the embryo is female
Day 45: the testicles