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Difficult Calvings - How to Help Save the CalfPrompt attention to the frequently encountered problems of the newborn calf can dramatically enhance its chance of survival. Jon E. Higgins VMD Acorn Embryo
Since it is impractical to think about eliminating difficult calving, or dystocia, producers should focus efforts on correcting the physiological disturbances like hypothermia and borderline levels of oxygen and/or blood glucose. Even with selection for well-grown heifers, balanced nutrition, adequate pelvic size, and calving-ease sires, dystocia will occur at some level, so it pays to have a management plan for these calves from difficult births. The overwhelming number of difficult calvings are done by the breeder or employees, not the veterinarian. In general, when the veterinarian looks at the issue of difficult calving, the extreme cases are in the forefront, because that is the typically seen case. Resuscitating these extreme calves is a typical worry, but the real place to focus is on the calves that the veterinarian doesn’t get to deliver that need assistance. Calving is the most traumatic transition an animal ever makes – although the success rate is usually very high. The calf has gone from a temperature controlled ‘swimming pool’ to exposure to air, having to breathe, having to stand, and using it’s neurologic system. Even a moderate amount of dystocia will have some negative impact on the calf, most survive, but they will be affected. Helping them promptly will prevent later problems. Neonatal Problems:Inactivity or lethargy. Often caused by poor mothering and stimulation by the dam. Delayed standing and suckling results and these calves have a harder time adapting. Intervene by rubbing with blankets, help it stand, provide colostrum.Hypothermia. A typical sign of an adaptive problem is a body temperature that continues to drop.Low oxygen/hypoxemia. Consider keeping an small oxygen tank to help post-dystocia calves and even to use on those coming out forward with a difficult pull once the chest is out. At that moment umbilical cord is shut off – stop there and put oxygen in the nose just enough so that you would feel a breeze blowing on your cheek. Calf gets a break, becomes more viable, dam gets a break and the net result is more favorable.Poor colostrum transfer. Often occurs in these calves – give them increased volumes of colostrum & for a prolonged period.What to monitor: It really is important to evaluate normal and abnormal calves after birth. Any calf borne of dystocia is be considered abnormal. Vigor of Calf – Most calves should make efforts toward standing within minutes after birth. Estimate calf vigor from such observations as ‘limp and depressed’ to ‘actively making efforts’ .Time to stand – Most calves should stand in less than one hour.Good mothering attention – If the calf doesn’t receive good mothering attention, it is not normal and warrants additional attention. Body temperature maintenance At birth, calves are 103-104 and in 15 minutes should be 101-101.5. Below 101 warrants additional attention from blankets, heat lamps, hair dryers, etc. Don’t wait to see if the mother will help it. Use your thermometer! Should have adequate suckling – Most calves should be suckling the dam within two hours of birth and have an active suckle reflex. If it’s a dystocia calf, don’t wait two hours – strip the dam and nipple feed the calf. If you wait two hours and it only sucks half what it needs, you’ve missed the opportunity to optimally prepare this calf. If it fails to nipple feed, note this and tube feed it.How to intervene: In the majority of cases, the owner/herd manager will be the person best positioned to combat problems caused by dystocia. The veterinary role should be to help establish a plan or system for evaluating these calves, monitoring them and giving nursing care.A simple but effective monitoring program will include assessing the dam’s health, type of delivery, maturity of newborn, and behavior of the calf. Calves from an ill dam or with any degree of dystocia, will likely have increased adaptation problems. Such calves, if need be, can be promptly dried and warmed, provided adequate shelter, stimulated to move about and suckle, and provided colostrum early and for a prolonged duration. These things will help you save more new calves once you’ve gone through the effort of getting them out and will provide them with much higher chances of surviving and thriving.
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