Oklahoma State University: Veterinary Viewpoints: Calving Season Is Around The Corner, Are You Ready?

Press release from Oklahoma State University:

2022-02-08

Ready or not, calving season is just around the corner. Preparing in advance positions
producers to successfully and immediately address the needs of the cow and the calf.

Before Delivery

Evaluate potential calving locations. Areas should be clean and dry. Consider providing
shelters for animals to escape the weather, especially if the calving season will
begin in cold weather. However, remember that as animals congregate in shelters, there
can be an increase in disease contamination.

Be prepared if a female has calving difficulty. Immediately examine heifers that labor
in Stage 2 of parturition for longer than an hour and cows that labor longer than
30 minutes. Develop a plan to transport to a veterinary clinic or have excellent onsite
facilities to address calving difficulties. Have the truck and trailer hooked up and
ready. Early intervention at the first sign of a problem is critical for both calf
and dam survival.

Remember to discuss your calving plan with your veterinarian. Build a relationship
with your veterinarian well before a 2 a.m. emergency calving call. Due to high demand,
many veterinary practices will only accept emergencies from existing clients. Your
veterinarian can work with you and your team to develop protocols so everyone is on
the same page when a problem occurs.

During Delivery

Be certain that calving equipment is clean, functional and readily accessible. Your
veterinarian can also help you develop essentials for a calving kit. Items to consider
in your calving kit may include:

After Delivery

Following delivery, the goal is to see the calf up and nursing as soon as possible.
If a calf requires stimulation, especially to breathe, be careful about the approach.
Positioning a calf upside down or hanging the hind legs over a fence is not effective.
In fact, it moves all the abdominal organs towards the lungs and applies pressure
making it more difficult to expand the ribcage and take a breath. Gently rubbing a
piece of hay in the nostrils can be helpful. It may also be worth discussing acupuncture
points and other techniques such as the Madigan Squeeze with your veterinarian.

Delays in a calf receiving colostrum have both short- and long-term impact on the
immune system. Ideally, a calf should receive colostrum within the first two hours
of life. Administering colostrum to calves without a suckle reflex using an esophageal
feeder should be done with extreme caution due to the increased risk of aspiration
pneumonia.

Milking the dam or maintaining a supply of frozen colostrum are the best options for
colostrum replacement. Commercially prepared colostrum replacer is acceptable if a
cow-derived source is not available. If a cow loses her calf during delivery, consider
taking the time to milk out the cow and freeze the colostrum for future use. Colostrum
can be easily frozen in gallon freezer bags.

The best way to monitor a calf’s temperature is with a rectal thermometer. Inexpensive
digital thermometers work well and make it easy to evaluate progress when warming
the calf is needed. If a calf’s temperature falls below 100 degrees F, gradually raise
that temperature. Bring the calf indoors and out of the elements if needed. When used
appropriately, warm water baths, blankets and warming boxes are all options to rewarm
a calf.

Be careful not to damage the skin of the animal by either rubbing too vigorously or
placing the animal close to heaters. Additionally, do not wash off the odor of amniotic
fluid. This helps prevent rejection by the dam. Warm oral or intravenous fluids as
advised by a veterinarian can also make a big difference. Once a calf is warm and
has been fed colostrum, return it to its mother.

Working with your veterinarian to develop protocols before calving season can reduce
stress and lead to more successful outcomes if an emergency arises. Your veterinarian
can guide and train you and your team on how and when to call for assistance.

About the author: Dr. Rosslyn Biggs is an assistant clinical professor at Oklahoma State University’s
College of Veterinary Medicine. She earned her DVM degree from Oklahoma State University
and currently serves as a Beef Cattle Extension Specialist and Director of Continuing
Education.

Veterinary Viewpoints is provided by the faculty of the OSU Veterinary Medical Teaching
Hospital. Certified by the American Animal Hospital Association, the hospital is open
to the public providing routine and specialized care for all species and 24-hour emergency
care, 365 days a year. Call 405-744-7000 for an appointment or more information.

This press release was produced by Oklahoma State University. The views expressed here are the author’s own.