Blocker Solves Prolapsed Uterus Problem

Blocker Solves Prolapsed Uterus Problem LIVESTOCK Beef 18-1-13 Arnold Guhle and his son, Giraud, who have a cow-calf operation near Daysland, Alberta, have come up with a solution to the problem of prolapsed uteruses in cows and bred heifers. Their new "Blocker" painlessly holds the uterus in place inside the cow and is easy to insert and remove. It consists of a piece of black plastic tubing about 20 in. long. On one end is an air valve and a mechanism for fastening the tubing to a nylon harness that holds the Blocker in place inside the cow. On the other end is an inflatable, airtight bladder. The unit is left in place inside the cow for three days, then removed by releasing the air from the bulb after the cow's cervix has shrunk back to normal size. The plastic tubing is discarded for sanitary purposes, but the rest of the unit can be cleaned and reused. The harness fits over the cow's shoulders and around her hips and can be adjusted in three different places to fit any size cow. "We had a heifer professionally pinned that was still straining against the pins after the third day. She had quit eating and was fading fast. Infection had already set in. We removed the pins and put the uterus back in place, then installed the Blocker. It extends inside the animal so the uterus can't be forced back into the birth channel, giving the cervix time to shrink back to normal size. The heifer completely recovered even though she still had a badly scarred vulva where the pins had taken the pressure of three days of pushing," says Arnold. Last spring one of Guhle's neighbors had a second-calf heifer that had her uterus out for 24 hours. In desperation, he called the Guhles and they helped him put the uterus back in place and insert the Blocker. The cow recovered so well that she has been rebred. "Last year the Blocker was used on eight animals and they all recovered. We haven't lost one animal," says Guhle, noting that installation is easier if done as soon as possible after the animal prolapses. The first step in treating a prolapsed uterus is getting it back in place. Lifting the back of the animal relieves the outward pressure and causes a slight vacuum or suction so that the internal organs almost flow back in. In order to make lifting easier, the Guhles have developed another product called the "Lifter". It has an 8-ft. high fame built from steel tubing and is hinged, allowing it to be collapsed for easy mobility. Nylon straps fit under the cow's hips and are connected to a pulley and crank, allowing the cow's hind-quarters to be easily raised off the ground. The uterus can then be quickly put back in place and the Blocker inserted. "The Lifter gently and painlessly lifts the cow," says Guhle. Sells for $350. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Arnold Guhle, Box 403, Daysland, Alberta, Canada TOB 1 AO (ph 403 374-2275).

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