western australia

simmental cattle

madigan squeeze

Ever heard of the Madigan squeeze?

@JudyEv (349212)

Rockingham, Australia

January 22, 2025 5:17am CST

We have friends who run a herd of Simmental beef cattle. Their pet cow, Bella, had had several calves without a problem but her last calf was a big bull calf which didn’t react as it should have. It has no suck reflex and was generally very floppy and sleepy. They fed the calf by tube with colostrum, but it wasn’t improving. Then they tried what is known as the Madigan squeeze. This involves imitating the pressure on the body that a foetus would receive as it passes through the birth canal. During birth, a particular hormone is switched off but sometimes the ‘switch’ does not work and the young animal remains in a sleepy, floppy state. A rope is passed around the body in a particular way and pressure applied. Our friends did this and were amazed when, 20 minutes after the rope was removed, the calf immediately went to suckle from the cow. Isn’t nature just incredible sometimes? The photo is of a bull we saw in the Vienna Zoo.

16 people like this

15 responses

@Juliaacv (52767)

• Canada

22 Jan

That really is amazing, and a life saving trick that probably saved that young calf's life.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (349212)

• Rockingham, Australia

22 Jan

I wonder who thought of the process. I know they use it on foals too.

2 people like this

@Fleura (31386)

• United Kingdom

22 Jan

I've never heard of that but it does make sense. There must be some sort of pressure points rather like those utilised in acupressure.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (349212)

• Rockingham, Australia

22 Jan

Yes, I think you'd be right. There are detailed instructions on the internet.

1 person likes this

@Fleura (31386)

• United Kingdom

22 Jan

@JudyEv I just found an article from Horse and Hound magazine in 2020, reporting it as a new technique.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (349212)

• Rockingham, Australia

23 Jan

@Fleura I saw that too. I wonder how they came up with trying such a procedure.

1 person likes this

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@DaddyEvil (144277)

• United States

22 Jan

I'm glad they "fixed" the calf. And no, I've never heard that term before. But I haven't lived on a farm since I was a teenager, either.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (349212)

• Rockingham, Australia

22 Jan

I'd never heard of it before.

2 people like this

@wolfgirl569 (113576)

• Marion, Ohio

22 Jan

Glad that worked. I had not heard of that. But I will try to remember it

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@wolfgirl569 (113576)

• Marion, Ohio

23 Jan

@JudyEv I should work on any animal

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (349212)

• Rockingham, Australia

24 Jan

@wolfgirl569 Yes, you would think so.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (349212)

• Rockingham, Australia

23 Jan

There are instructions on the internet. A good trick to have up your sleeve.

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Patricia Ocampo

@iKONICNoona (4295)

• Philippines

22 Jan

Sometimes we cant explain what happens with nature sometimes but if we think about it nature has its way in helping man kind too to have a better life together with beloved animals.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (349212)

• Rockingham, Australia

22 Jan

I agree. There is much we can learn if we're open to new ideas.

1 person likes this

@Beestring (15087)

• Hong Kong

22 Jan

That is really amazing.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (349212)

• Rockingham, Australia

22 Jan

Such a simple trick really but it worked.

2 people like this

@GardenGerty (162783)

• United States

23 Jan

I have never heard of that, but it is neat to know and read about.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (349212)

• Rockingham, Australia

23 Jan

I think it is quite a new technique.

@BarBaraPrz (49099)

• St. Catharines, Ontario

22 Jan

Never heard of that, and wondering who came up with the idea in the first place... someone named Madigan?

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (349212)

• Rockingham, Australia

23 Jan

I wondered who thought of it too. I didn't check about Madigan but you're probably right.

1 person likes this

@allknowing (142830)

• India

22 Jan

I think copying nature is incredible as in this case

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (349212)

• Rockingham, Australia

23 Jan

I'm wondering who was first to think of it.

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@Tampa_girl7 (52209)

• United States

22 Jan

It is truly incredible.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (349212)

• Rockingham, Australia

23 Jan

It's amazing, isn't it?

@rakski (135043)

• Philippines

23 Jan

this is new to me. It is good they do that.

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@rakski (135043)

• Philippines

23 Jan

@JudyEv that is true!

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (349212)

• Rockingham, Australia

23 Jan

It would have saved a few baby calves and foals which is nice.

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@RasmaSandra (83408)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

23 Jan

That is really amazing and of course, good that the calf is safe,

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (349212)

• Rockingham, Australia

23 Jan

The couple were quite amazed that it worked. It was a last-ditch effort.

1 person likes this

@Marilynda1225 (84127)

• United States

22 Jan

That certainly is amazing. I have never heard of the Madigan squeeze but glad it worked.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (349212)

• Rockingham, Australia

23 Jan

Yes, it's good that it worked for them. They didn't really hold out much hope and were a bit astounded when it worked so well.

Lenore Plassman

@sallypup (63384)

• Centralia, Washington

23 Jan

Beautiful cow. That's a fantastic technique.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (349212)

• Rockingham, Australia

23 Jan

Some of these things are almost miraculous.

1 person likes this

@snowy22315 (186986)

• United States

22 Jan

Very interesting..I wonder who ever came up with that one?

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (349212)

• Rockingham, Australia

23 Jan

I always wonder that too. Who thought to try such a thing.