Pubic Symphysiotomy

Abstract

With your indulgence, I will refer to this subject as “pelvis splitting.” This procedure is done obviously to relieve dystocia in heifers.

We use this primarily in cases where we have an oversized calf, and I should preface this by saying primarily in beef cattle. We have used this technique in some dairy cattle but we mostly reserve it for beef animals. I am in an almost exclusively beef practice. We also use it when the heifer has a particularly narrow pelvis. It is of little or no value for the really fat young heifer with a normal pelvis. This procedure is absolutely of no value in a case of limited dilatation of the cervix.