Claire Windeyer, BSc, DVM, DVSc: No financial relationships to disclose
Birth and the immediate post-natal period are the riskiest time in a calf’s life. Many producers report that preweaning calf mortality is a major concern for their operations. In beef calves, almost 1 in 4 preweaning deaths are attributable to perinatal issues. Dystocia is defined as a prolonged or difficult birth, which may or may not require human intervention. The incidence of calving assistance in cow-calf herds in North America is approximately 5%; however, 96% of beef producers reported having to assist at least one calving during a given calving. These calves warrant particular attention to minimize calf losses.
All calves are born in a state of mixed metabolic and respiratory acidosis, but those that experience a difficult calving are more severely affected. Although the best means of correcting this acidemia is still being debated, prompt and effective ventilation is undoubtably important to address the respiratory component of the acidemia and is essential for the survival of the neonate. Dystocia is also a traumatic and painful event for the calf. Forces applied to both legs average 95.5kg during manual assistance and 188.6kg for mechanical deliveries (i.e. using a calf jack). Difficult calving is associated with subclinical trauma, poor calf vigour, and decreased odds of acquiring adequate transfer of passive immunity (TPI). Addressing the pain and inflammation of a difficult calving is advisable to improve calf well-being, levels of activity, and growth. Once a calf successfully initiates respiration and ambulation, the next essential task they must complete is consuming sufficient volumes of acceptable quality colostrum to acquire adequate TPI. Evidence-informed practices to prevent failed TPI for beef calves are sparse but continue to evolve.
Properly caring for compromised newborn calves remains an important issue for individual calf health and well-being, and for herd management and productivity of beef herds. In this session, several post-natal interventions will be discussed in turn: ventilation, pain mitigation, and colostrum management for beef calves.
Learning Objectives:
Upon completion, participant will be able to discuss various types of newborn calf resuscitation techniques to be encouraged and those to be discouraged, including the reasons why.
Upon completion, participant will be able to summarize available scientific evidence regarding the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in newborn beef calves after assisted calving.
Upon completion, participant will be able to describe current evidence-informed colostrum management strategies for beef calves and the related research.
