Editing Cow tipping (section)

== Veterinary and husbandry practices ==

[[File:Calf cradle.JPG|thumb|left|A calf cradle used for branding in Australia]]

Cattle may need to be deliberately thrown or tipped over for certain types of [[animal husbandry|husbandry]] practices and medical treatment. When done for medical purposes, this is often called "casting", and when performed without mechanical assistance requires the attachment of {{convert|30|to|40|ft|m|order=flip|0}} of rope around the body and legs of the animal. After the rope is secured by non-slip [[bowline]] knots, it is pulled to the rear until the animal is off-balance. Once the cow is forced to lie down in [[sternum|sternal]] recumbency (on its chest), it can be rolled onto its side and its legs tied to prevent kicking.<ref>{{cite web |title = Rope Squeeze |url = http://research.vet.upenn.edu/Dairy/Restraint/CastingRestraints/RopeSqueeze/tabid/3917/Default.aspx |website = University of Pennsylvania Veterinary Medicine |access-date = May 16, 2016 |date = 2016 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160523185855/http://research.vet.upenn.edu/Dairy/Restraint/CastingRestraints/RopeSqueeze/tabid/3917/Default.aspx |archive-date = May 23, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title = Burley Method of Casting |url = http://cal.vet.upenn.edu/projects/fieldservice/Dairy/RESTR/burley.htm |website = New Bolton Center Field Service Department |access-date = May 16, 2016 |date = 2003 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160525221519/http://cal.vet.upenn.edu/projects/fieldservice/Dairy/RESTR/burley.htm |archive-date = May 25, 2016 |df = mdy-all }}</ref>

A calf table or calf cradle, also called a "tipping table" or a "throw down", is a relatively modern invention designed to be used on [[Calf (animal)|calves]] that are being [[livestock branding|branded]]. A calf is run into a [[cattle chute|chute]], confined, and then tipped by the equipment onto its side for easier branding and [[castration]].<ref>{{cite web |title = Working Calves in the Calf Table |url = http://thepioneerwoman.com/confessions/working-calves-in-the-calf-table/ |website = The Pioneer Woman |access-date = May 16, 2016 |language = en-US |date = June 3, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title = Tipping Tables |url = http://www.starkeng.com.au/tipping-tables.php |website = Stark Engineering |access-date = May 16, 2016 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160405203814/http://starkeng.com.au/tipping-tables.php |archive-date = April 5, 2016 |df = mdy-all }}</ref>

Hydraulic tilt tables for adult cattle have existed since the 1970s and are designed to lift and tip cattle onto their sides to enable veterinary care, particularly of the animals' [[genitalia]], and for [[hoof]] maintenance.<ref name="Gunville" /> (Unlike horses, cows generally do not cooperate with a [[farrier]] when standing.)<ref name=CTV /> A Canadian veterinarian explained, "Using the table is much safer and easier than trying to get underneath to examine the animal", and noted that cows tipped over on a padded table usually stop struggling and become calm fairly quickly.<ref name="Gunville">{{cite web |last1 = Gunville |first1 = Lynne |title = Vet Table Tilts a Cow's World |url = http://www.canadiancattlemen.ca/2014/10/28/vet-table-tilts-a-cows-world/ |website = Canadian Cattlemen |access-date = May 16, 2016 |date = October 28, 2014 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160601082048/http://www.canadiancattlemen.ca/2014/10/28/vet-table-tilts-a-cows-world/ |archive-date = June 1, 2016 |df = mdy-all }}</ref> One design, developed at the [[Western College of Veterinary Medicine]] in [[Saskatoon]], [[Saskatchewan]], included "cow comfort" as a unique aspect of care using this type of apparatus.<ref name=CTV>{{cite news |url = http://saskatoon.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=498169 |title = Stephanie Massicotte Goes Cow Tipping with Veterinarian Dr. Chris Clark |work = [[CTV News]] |location = Saskatoon, Saskatchewan |publisher = Bell Media |year = 2016 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160610075849/http://saskatoon.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=498169 |archive-date = June 10, 2016 |df = mdy-all }}</ref>

=== Involuntary recumbency ===

Cows may inadvertently tip themselves. Due to their bulk and relatively short legs, cattle cannot roll over. Those that lie down and roll to their sides with their feet pointing uphill may become stuck and unable to rise without assistance, with potentially fatal results. In such cases, two humans can roll or flip a cow onto its other side, so that its feet are aimed downhill, thus allowing it to rise on its own.<ref>{{cite web |last1 = Swearingen |first1 = Jake |title = Cow Tipping Doesn't Exist – But Cow Flipping Does – Modern Farmer |url = http://modernfarmer.com/2013/09/cow-tipping-doesnt-exist-cow-flipping/ |website = Modern Farmer |access-date = May 16, 2016 |language = en-US |date = September 9, 2013 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160526180102/http://modernfarmer.com/2013/09/cow-tipping-doesnt-exist-cow-flipping/ |archive-date = May 26, 2016 |df = mdy-all }}</ref> In one documented case of "real-life cow tipping", a pregnant cow rolled into a gully in [[New Hampshire]] and became trapped in an inverted state until rescued by [[volunteer fire fighters]]. The owner of the cow commented that he had seen this happen "once or twice" before.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.ledgertranscript.com/News/A-case-of-cow-tipping-on-Hancock-farmland-1321887 |title = A Case of Cow Tipping on Hancock Farmland |first = Ben |last = Conant |date = April 4, 2016 |newspaper = [[Monadnock Ledger-Transcript]] |location = Monadnock, New Hampshire |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160509170019/http://www.ledgertranscript.com/News/A-case-of-cow-tipping-on-Hancock-farmland-1321887 |archive-date = May 9, 2016 |df = mdy-all }}</ref>

Trauma or illness may also result in a cow unable to rise to its feet. Such animals are sometimes called "[[downer (animal)|downers]]." Sometimes this occurs as a result of muscle and nerve damage from calving or a disease such as [[mastitis]].<ref name=Downer /> Leg injuries, muscle tears, or a massive infection of some sort may also be causes.<ref name="VanMetre">{{cite web |last1 = Van Metre |first1 = David C. |last2 = Garry |first2 = Frank B. |title = Figuring out down cows |url = http://www.cvmbs.colostate.edu/ilm/proinfo/wdn/2008/WDN%20Dec%20downers.pdf |work = Western Dairy News |access-date = May 16, 2016 |date = December 2008 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130129113039/http://www.cvmbs.colostate.edu/ilm/proinfo/wdn/2008/WDN%20Dec%20downers.pdf |archive-date = January 29, 2013 |df = mdy-all }}</ref> Downer cows are encouraged to get to their feet and have a much greater chance of recovery if they do. If unable to rise, some have survived—with medical care—as long as 14 days and were ultimately able to get back on their feet. Appropriate medical treatment for a downer cow to prevent further injury includes rolling from one side to the other every three hours, careful and frequent feeding of small amounts of [[fodder]], and access to clean water.<ref name=Downer>{{cite web |title = The Downer Cow |url = http://www.thecattlesite.com/diseaseinfo/246/the-downer-cow/ |website = The Cattle Site |access-date = May 16, 2016 |archive-date = November 12, 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201112034933/http://www.thecattlesite.com/diseaseinfo/246/the-downer-cow/ |url-status = live }}</ref>

=== Death ===
{{multiple image
|align=right
|total_width=440
|caption_align=center
 | width1=
 | height1=
 | image1=Dead bullock in winter.JPG
 | alt1=a dead red and white bullock covered with snow
 | caption1=Rigor mortis leads to muscle stiffening, particularly noticeable in the limbs
 | width2=
 | height2=
 | image2=Dead Cow - Alien Highway (3961775674).jpg
 | alt2=a dead cow laying on its back with all four limbs in the air
 | caption2=Bloat and rigor mortis combined result in a dead cow appearing "belly up"
}}

Dead animals may appear to have been tipped over, but this is actually the process of [[rigor mortis]], which stiffens the muscles of the carcass,<ref name="Black's">{{cite book |editor = Boden, Edward |title = Black's Veterinary Dictionary |date = 1998 |publisher = Barnes & Noble Books |location = Lanham, Maryland |isbn = 0-389-21017-X |page = 449 |edition = 19th |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=rxAD2cWqYI0C&pg=PA449 |via = Google Books |access-date = May 24, 2016 |archive-date = October 13, 2023 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231013205357/https://books.google.com/books?id=rxAD2cWqYI0C&pg=PA449#v=onepage&q&f=false |url-status = live }}</ref> beginning six to eight hours after death and lasting for one to two days. It is particularly noticeable in the limbs, which stick out straight.<ref name="UGAvet">{{cite web |title = Postmortem Changes |url = http://vet.uga.edu/ivcvm/courses/VPAT5200/02_injury/postmortem/postmortem.htm |website = University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine |access-date = May 19, 2016 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160512062750/http://vet.uga.edu/ivcvm/courses/VPAT5200/02_injury/postmortem/postmortem.htm |archive-date = May 12, 2016 |df = mdy-all }}</ref> Post-mortem bloat also occurs because of gas formation inside the body.<ref name="UGA5">{{cite web |title = Post Mortem Changes 5 |url = http://vet.uga.edu/ivcvm/courses/VPAT5200/02_injury/postmortem/pm05.html |website = University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine |access-date = May 19, 2016 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160518073442/http://vet.uga.edu/ivcvm/courses/VPAT5200/02_injury/postmortem/pm05.html |archive-date = May 18, 2016 |df = mdy-all }}</ref> The process may result in cattle carcasses that wind up on their back with all four feet in the air.