TLC Tips for Dystocia Calves

Just because calves survive a traumatic birth doesn’t mean they’re completely out of the woods. Some extra measures to care for dystocia calves can help put them back on par with their heartmates.
Just because calves survive a traumatic birth doesn’t mean they’re completely out of the woods. Some extra measures to care for dystocia calves can help put them back on par with their heartmates.
(Maureen Hanson)

When calves enter the world after a difficult birth, their troubles may be just beginning.

In a study performed at Colorado State University (CSU) showed, heifer calves that required assistance at delivery had a significantly higher incidence of scours, respiratory disease, and mortality in the first 120 days of life.

The same study showed heifer calves born in dystocia had a 3-to-24-fold increased likelihood to die at birth, were 1.5 times more likely to get sick before weaning, and had a preweaning death loss rate of nearly double that of heifers born unassisted.

Giving dystocia calves a fighting chance requires some extra effort and advance protocols to deliver that care. Researchers at the University of Kentucky recommend:

 

1. Stimulate respiration – Calves that are not making active respiratory movements within 30 seconds of delivery need immediate assistance. Sit the animal upon on its sternum, clear the nostrils of mucus and poke the nostrils with a clean piece of straw to stimulate a gasping reflex and bring air into the lungs.

2. Promote circulation – Vigorously rubbing the head and body with a clean towel will help stimulate blood flow and carry oxygen to the brain.

3. Boost body temperature – Calves that have experienced a difficult birth may have low muscle tone and are thus less capable of regulating their body heat. Especially in cold weather, expose these calves to an infrared heater or place them in a warm bath to improve rectal temperature, blood oxygen level and respiratory rate.

4. Monitor injuries – Calves delivered with mechanical assistance may have bruising or fractures to the legs, ribs, and vertebral column, as well as damage to the spinal cord. These injuries may not be readily apparent, so observe dystocia calves carefully in their first days of life. As appropriate, provide pain management and other supportive therapies.

5. Deliver colostrum – As with all calves, the first dose of colostrum is critical. Calves that were wedged in the birth canal for several hours may have swelling to the head and/or tongue, so it is likely the first feeding – and possibly several subsequent ones -- will need to be delivered via esophageal feeder.  

 

The timing of that first dose of colostrum is an issue of some debate. While the first inclination may be to administer it as quickly as possible -- such as within an hour of birth -- another school of thought supports a few hours’ delay.

In a bulletin prepared for the Dairy Calf and Heifer Association, technical support veterinarian Nathan Upah with TechMix advocates waiting until dystocia calves have more time to oxygenate their blood.

Upah explained that many of the struggles dystocia calves face is due to hypoxia, or a shortage of oxygen. “During a normal birth, the calf will exit the womb with about 80% blood oxygen saturation, and very quickly progress to 98-100% when they start breathing,” he explained.

Calves born to dystocia usually require more time to fully oxygenate their blood. As a result, they may also be less capable of absorbing colostral antibodies.

“It could be deduced that colostrum absorption could be improved by slightly delaying colostrum administration, allowing the dystocia calf more time to fully oxygenate,” Upah stated.

Therefore, one component of a dystocia-calf management protocol, which should be established with the herd veterinarian, may be waiting to administer colostrum on the longer end of the recommended 4-hour, post-birth window.

Dystocia calves, particularly those born via Caesarian section, also may benefit from the Madigan Squeeze technique, which simulates the birth process and triggers chemical changes in the brain that help calves perk up and function successfully in the outside world.

 

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