Cold Stress & Newborn Calves

Source:
Michelle Arnold, DVM, DABVP (Food Animal)
Ruminant Extension Veterinarian
University of Kentucky

(Matt Barton, UK Agricultural Communications)

As the weather is predicted to be bitter cold over the next two days, producers should take extra care of newborn calves to ensure their survival.

A calf's body temperature often falls below normal due to a slow birth (dystocia) followed by delayed standing and nursing.  Returning the calf's core body temperature to normal (100 degrees F for newborn calves) is the immediate concern, then maintaining that core temperature is of secondary concern.



If at all possible, bring close-up cows indoors to calve in a heavily bedded, clean pen.  If calving outdoors, make sure there is dry, clean ground available for the cows to calve on without a large amount of manure.  If the cow calves outdoors, bring the calf in until warm and dry, if the calf is showing signs of hypothermia and/or there are no natural windbreaks available.

The two most important factors in calf survival are warmth and colostrum.  Before giving colostrum, a chilled calf first needs to be warmed as these newborns are typically too weak to suckle.  Colostrum may be delivered by an esophageal feeder.  Karo syrup (dark is preferred) delivered by mouth to a calf is a quick source of readily available energy and is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream.

Methods to warm a calf include:

1. Floor board heaters of pickup trucks.
2. Submersion of wet calves in a warm bath--you must support the calf to prevent drowning.  The water should be gradually warmed to 100 degrees F and will need to be changed to keep it at that temperature.
3. Placing calves next to the heater in the house.
4. Placing the calf under a heat lamp--be careful to cover the lamp with a screen so the calf will not get burned as it becomes more active.
5. Warm blankets--these should not be so hot that they can cause skin burns.  Change the blankets as needed to maintain a consistent temperature and not allow the calf to cool off.
6. Hot box or warming box--the temperature should not be so high that burns could result.  Some type of venting is necessary to prevent buildup of carbon monoxide and moisture.  Air movement is also important to ensure thorough warming of the calf and prevent hot spots in a warming box.
7. Warm IV fluids may be administered by a veterinarian.

Once the calf has been warmed, provide colostrum and maintain body temperature.  Colostrum is a concentrated source of protein, vitamins, minerals and energy, and also contains antibodies to diseases or vaccines that the dam has been exposed to.  If the calf is unwilling to suck and it is not possible to milk the dam, commercial colostrum replacement products are available.

Calves should be fed colostrum as soon as possible after the suckle reflex has returned--generally within the first six (6) hours after birth, but ideally within 1-2 hours after birth.  Once the calf is warm and fed, move it back to its mother.

For more information on the effect of cold temperatures on livestock, please read the UK article, "Bitter Cold Temps Will Create Prolonged Period of Livestock Cold Stress."