Care of the Newborn Calf

There have been many studies that have focused on the causes of calf mortality. There was a large scale survey done in the United States by the Veterinary Services as a part of the National Animal Health Monitoring System. The results showed that the period of highest calf loss is within several days after delivery, and the vast majority of losses occur during the first 3-4 weeks of life.

There are several factors that contribute to the above mortality losses described above. Difficulty at calving is the most obvious; however infectious agents such as calf scours, navel infection and pneumonia all contribute to the mortality numbers.

Reducing environmental stress and timing of colostrum intake are most important to the health of a newborn calf. Wet and cold calves are more prone to cold stress or hypothermia. Getting these calves warmed as quickly as possible is key to survival. Rectal temperatures are an important indicator of the level of cold stress on the newborn calf. A reading of less than 100 degrees F would indicate that the calf has been cold stressed. At a reading of 94 Degrees F or lower, the vital organs are cold and brain functions have been impaired. It is critical when a calf has a rectal temp of less than 100 degrees F, the first priority is to warm the calf up.

Once body temperature has been maintained, provide colostrum as quickly as possible. Colostrum provides the calf with its first mechanism against infectious agents that we described above. Colostrum contains immunoglobulin’s that provide the first immunity and source of energy for the calf. The calf’s ability to absorb immunoglobulin’s decrease rapidly with age, thus the importance of getting the colostrum into calves in the first 2-4 hours following birth.

As you complete your 2009 UFA Calving Checklist, be sure to include several packages of Dried Bovine Colostrum, electrolytes, scour treatment options and a supply of First Defense which is a colostrum supplement which aids in the reduction of mortality due to scours caused by K99 E. coli.

If you have any questions I would be happy to review those with you or visit with your veterinarian to establish a calving protocol. Remember to stop by your UFA Farm and Ranch store to take advantage of the savings on the Calving Checklist.