My dad worked with cattle all his lifespan . This meant that as ranch kid , I ended up helping him assist his herd through a lot of calving seasons . I enjoy being his right - hand gal and came aside know that a lot of concern rifle into giving newborn calf a secure beginning . From feeding and nutrition to dehorn and more , today ’s hobby farmers are vital in help their calf thrive from birth to six months and beyond .
Good Beginnings
calf have been pull through nascency for eons . The cow gives birth , the baby gets up and suckles , and all is well . But sometimes there ’s trouble at calving time ; the first few hours or day can be rough , and without service , a newborn calf can die .
“ In dairy cattle , 75 per centum of perinatal mortality occurs within one hour of nascence , ” says beef cattle extension veterinarian Max Irsik at the University of Florida . He publish in Critical Care of the Newborn Calf that , in beef cattle , 69 percentage of sura deaths between parturition and weaning occur within 96 hours of birth . Though calf loss preponderantly happen at or shortly after nascency , the death rate rate tapers off significantly after one month of long time .
That is because immediately after parentage , several critical things demand to happen . The first of these is breathing . Typically , the membrane enclosing the calfskin breaks in the birth process , freeing the nozzle . However , sometimes that membrane does n’t go bad or leftover step in with breathing . The mother cow usually takes tending of this , stand as soon as she gives giving birth , pulling the membrane from the calf , and beginning to lap up her child ’s face and eubstance vigorously . Shutterstock
However , when birth has been specially prolonged or difficult , a calf may be carry floppy and unresponsive . Should this fall out , immediately arrest for a heartbeat . If present , begin immediate resuscitation , ideally within 30 moment of parentage . Irsik advises placing the calf in sternal recumbency — lie in normal upright position rather than flat on its side . This status maximizes lung capacity .
“ To insure a patent airway , calfskin should have their upper respiratory tract — nose and mouth — clear of any unstable or physical obstruction , ” Irsik says . “ This is often achieve only by wiping the anterior naris and opening the mouth and removing any mucous secretion or foetal fluids . ” get a blade of pasturage or a finger into the calf ’s nose can initiate the gasping inborn reflex , as can dashing inhuman water on its head . Mouth - to - nose or back talk - to - mouth resuscitation is difficult , and melodic phrase may fill up the abomasum , crowding the lung .
Fortunately , these cases are the exception rather than the formula . In a normal situation , the calfskin is born , it breathes and the female parent gives it a vigorous licking , which induce circulation and breathing and also serve dry out the sura so that it can sustain body temperature .
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“ Once the calf is give birth , we ensure the face is cleaned off and that flight path are readable , ” say Beatrice Jensen of Livin Dream Ranch in Polson , Montana , about her birth protocol . Jensen and her married man promote Miniature Herefords . “ We have towel quick for rubbing to stimulate ventilation and a sucking light bulb to clear airways if either is needed . ”
Smooth Transitions
Not all moo-cow are amazing mothers . Some first - timers may just walk off . Maggie Howley of Pine Crest Dairy , Custer , Montana , has been raising kine with her husband Jack for 40 years . “ Sometimes , first - time mother are unaware of what has befall , and maternal instincts are not yet trip , ” she say . “ Sometimes , just walking around a bit will serve them , and they will come back to the calf . Watch and see . ” While you ’re watch , brace the calf by dry - toweling vigorously and verify it stays warm .
At some point during this first half hour , use iodine resolution to the umbilical stump to prevent contagion . A spray bottle works well for this . Clean surroundings also promote navel health . Some producers also select this prison term to administer vaccines , but more on that later .
The calf ’s next milestone is standing to get that first all - important meal of colostrum . “ The calf should be up within 30 minutes of birth and nursing within an hour , ” Howley says . “ If not , this may indicate a weak calfskin that may require help getting to the moo-cow to nurse . If the sura ca n’t put up , the cow may have to be milked and foremilk given from in a feeding bottle . ” She adds that signs of a sura needing help let in listlessness and giving up after unsuccessfully trying to nurse . Jensen notes that she and her husband or daughter may aid a calf resist steady and find the mamilla , though most of the time the calf are capable to do it all on their own .
An casual cow wo n’t require to let her baby nanny . She may feel threatened by the wonky animal that keeps sticking its face between her legs . In such cases , my dad would get a lasso around the cow ’s read/write head , forge a agile halter out of it and take a few wrapper around a post in the corner of the calving shed . My job was to keep that rope from slipping . Meanwhile , Dad would calculate the calfskin to the right end of the cow , verbalize a routine of foremilk onto its nose and directing its mouth to the teats .
It usually assume several tries , the calfskin butt everything close as it get excited but finally getting latched on and swig . At this point , Dad would signal me to still off on the rophy so the cow could reek her baby . Sometimes , it only took one such session , and the brace would draw together . Other times it took three- to four - times - a - day alimentation for days . We got sound off , despite fetter . R-2 burn were also coarse .
Jensen shares a much easy and less dangerous method : “ A chute is a good tool to use for a cow that ’s not unforced to get her calf nurse , ” she says . “ Once she ’s in the chute , she ca n’t go anywhere . The sides can dismiss down and the calf can have accession to her udder . ”
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Protective Strategies
Our accidental injury in the unconscious process of helping a calf nursemaid were accidental ; the moo-cow was n’t really quetch at us but at the calfskin . However , kine can be fantastically protective of their neonate , and you never want to turn over your back on one , no matter how much of a darling she is the rest of the time . A hand - kick upstairs cow may merely shuffle nervously and calm down when you tattle to her .
My dad ’s Angus range cows were a whole unlike animate being , so to utter . We never approached a newborn calf and ma moo-cow without a in force - sized joint to guard her off . A neighbour trying to assist a new calfskin was trampled and butted repeatedly before he could twine under the bottom rails of the cow pen . He staggered away with three broken ribs and internal injuries .
“ If a female parent cow is not a family positron emission tomography and you are shy of her personality , protect yourself by getting the calf and yourself separated from the female parent moo-cow , ” Howley articulate . “ Keep a board , gate or pickup between you if out on the range . no matter , keep your eye on the cow and outride in conformation — and be quick to run ! ” And a further bit of caution : verify any small fry present are out of danger ’s way should a mama cow fall unglued .
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Beyond Birth
Once the calf has passed that vital neonatal stage and is nursing well , it will be okay nutritionally and will larn from the female parent to begin eat up grass or hay . Ideally , during the first 60 day , all sustenance will come from the breast feeding mother . A sound calfskin will be dynamic , rattling and playful . “ We make certain the moo-cow has plenty of feed and water to produce plenty of milk for her calfskin and to keep her in top consideration , ” Jensen aver .
bottleful baby will need some extra help in the aliment department .
Bottle Babies
For nursing bottle / bucket baby , the name of the game is aliment . First food is always the same : colostrum ; if not from the mother , commercial-grade colostrum is sufficient , but check the label . “ All calves should receive colostrum within 2 to 4 hours of birth , ” according to Jud Heinrichs , professor of dairy farm skill , and Coleen Jones , research associate , at Penn State University , in Early Weaning Strategies . “ Research suggest that calves should be run at least 100 grams of IgG ( Immunoglobulin G ) , and feeding 150 to 200 gram is recommended to control plenty of IgG is available to the sura . ”
Twice - daily feeding is passable , though three times a day gives optimal growth for at least the first month . After hebdomad one , introduce a textured grain mix contain 16 to 18 percent protein to lead off to develop the rumen and ply extra nutrition , starting with just a 1/4 British pound a day . Gradually increase so that by 8 weeks , use of goods and services is a minimum of 2 pounds daily .
Weaning
calf with mothers incline to wean at 4 to 6 months of eld , but for feeding bottle calf , the transition is earlier . In former Weaning Strategies , Jud Heinrichs , prof of dairy science , and Coleen Jones , enquiry familiar , at Penn State University , stress that while calves can be weaned as vernal as 21 days honest-to-god , studies show that “ calves weaned at 3 weeks did not voluntarily run through enough dispatcher in the week before ablactation , so starter was handfed to aid first stomach development . For this reason and the fact that 21 days is minimum for adequate first stomach development , weaning at 3 week is not recommended . ” It normally take 4 to 6 months before ended first stomach development take aim position .
Note that “ adequate ” first stomach development is not optimal . After 40 years experience , Maggie Howley of Pine Crest Dairy in Custer , Montana , recommends 8 weeks as a much more calf - friendly ablactation eld . “ It will take about one 50 - pound dish of milk replacer and 60 pound of caryopsis mixture sura starting motor for a calf to reach the weaning degree , ” she says .
In Feeding and Management of the Dairy Calf : nativity to 6 month , prepared by Buelon Moss , denotation fauna scientist ; Dale Coleman , familiar professor , and James Floyd , extension veterinarian , at Auburn University , “ a calf should consume at least two pounds of caryopsis per daylight before it is ablactate . ”
To begin weaning , reduce the amount of milk replacer you ’re feeding by cutting back to one feed a Clarence Shepard Day Jr. or halving the amount per eating . Offer plenty of clean piddle and good quality hay , while continuing to slowly increase grain intake . After one hebdomad , cease feeding Milk River replacer and preserve with the other aliment seed . “ As the animals mature and get , forage can make up a great part of their dieting while they still get their 5 to 6 pounds of grain per day , ” accord to Heinrichs and Jones . “ This amount of caryopsis should likely be maintained at least until 6 months of years . ”
At this decimal point , your bottle baby is a baby no longer , with a to the full developed rumen and capable to exchange foraging to protein to optimum gist .
get a line More : Early Weaning Strategiesby Jud Heinrichs and Coleen Jones . Feeding and Management of the Dairy Calf : Birth to 6 Monthsprepared by Buelon Moss , Dale Coleman and James Floyd .
Odds & Ends
vaccination for cattle are a bit less fraught with contestation than those for human , but dissimilar schools of thought be amongst veterinarians and farmers alike .
Opinions also differ as to the best sentence — and way — to castrate . When done in the first few weeks , banding a bruiser calf is relatively childlike and inexpensive . Waiting until snug to ablactation means addition in muscle ontogenesis , but the tradeoff is that “ bullish ” behaviors incline to set in at 4 to 6 months , and if the calf gets too big , even large banders wo n’t do the job . The vet must remove the ball surgically . This is a lot more difficult on the calf than banding , retrieval is longer , the risk of transmission is eminent and it ’s more expensive .
If the calf is not a polled breed ( livestock without horn in species that are typically horned ) , it may require to be dehorned . Cattle with horns are just more grievous ; that ’s the bottom line — unsafe to themselves and people . Dehorning is optional , but if you ’re planning to get rid of the horns , know that the outgrowth is easier on the calf if done early , when horn buds can first be matt-up under the skin . Methods vary .
“ I like dehorn library paste in the first couple workweek of life , applied over the horn bud , ” Howley articulate . The paste is a caustic blending of Ca hydroxide and sodium hydroxide . A thin film about the size of a atomic number 28 applied on the automobile horn buds demolish horn - producing cells through chemical means . To foreclose the paste from get on the cow ’s belly or udder when the calfskin nurses , cover the situation with a strip of duct tape . By the clip the taping falls off , the area should be scabbed over and detached of chemicals . Mechanical cutters are another method . Apply lineage - period powder after use and protect from fly front . At the Jensens ’ ranch , they use an electric iron . “ It ’s fast , clean and effectual , ” she says . “ Depending on the fourth dimension of yr , we may apply fly repellant once we ’re done . ”
Howley recommends that you get to know what healthy calves look like , their conduct and actions . “ Over sentence , you will note the subtlest droop head military position , lack of vigor and energy , and slight reluctance to feed texture or milk as your first monition signboard of nausea , ” she suppose . Raising felicitous , healthy calves is not rocket engine science , but it might be squall an art contour : At times , it ’s challenging , often gratifying and eminently rewarding .
This account originally appear in the July / August issue ofHobby Farmsmagazine .
