Birth

===Cattle===
[[File:Cow giving birth, in Laos (step by step).jpg|thumb|alt=Series of photos showing a cow giving birth|A cow giving birth]]
Birthing in [[cattle]] is typical of a larger mammal. A [[cow]] goes through three stages of labor during normal delivery of a calf. During stage one, the animal seeks a quiet place away from the rest of the herd.  Hormone changes cause soft tissues of the birth canal to relax as the mother's body prepares for birth. The contractions of the [[uterus]] are not obvious externally, but the cow may be restless. She may appear agitated, alternating between standing and lying down, with her tail slightly raised and her back arched. The fetus is pushed toward the birth canal by each contraction and the cow's [[cervix]] gradually begins to dilate. Stage one may last several hours, and ends when the cervix is fully dilated. Stage two can be seen to be underway when there is external protrusion of the [[amniotic sac]] through the vulva, closely followed by the appearance of the calf's front hooves and head in a front presentation (or occasionally the calf's tail and rear end in a posterior presentation).<ref name=Alberta/>  During the second stage, the cow will usually lie down on her side to push and the calf progresses through the birth canal. The complete delivery of the calf (or calves in a multiple birth) signifies the end of stage two. The cow scrambles to her feet (if lying down at this stage), turns round and starts vigorously licking the calf. The calf takes its first few breaths and within minutes is struggling to rise to its feet. The third and final stage of labor is the delivery of the [[placenta]], which is usually expelled within a few hours and is often eaten by the normally [[Herbivore|herbivorous]] cow.<ref name=Alberta>{{cite web |url=http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex3451 |title=Calving |date=2000-02-01 |publisher=Alberta: Agriculture and Rural Development |access-date=2013-08-28 |archive-date=2013-09-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130912011555/http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex3451 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=ohio>{{cite web |url=http://ohioline.osu.edu/vme-fact/pdf/0029.pdf |title=Calving Management in Dairy Herds: Timing of Intervention and Stillbirth |year=2012 |publisher=The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine Extension |access-date=2013-12-17 |archive-date=2013-12-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219005040/http://ohioline.osu.edu/vme-fact/pdf/0029.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>