CalfCare leaflet series

ANIMAL HEALTH IRELAND

Contributing to a profitable and sustainable farming and agri-food sector through improved animal health

Calving and Care of the

Newborn Calf
CalfCare Leaflet Series Vol.5, Ver. 1,March 2021

CALF HEALTH PROGRAMME

Animal Health Ireland, 2-5 The Archways, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim, N41 WN27
 AHI gratefully acknowledges the financial and other contributions of our stakeholders.

Irish Livestock
Exporters
Association

PCBCOI

Contributing to a profitable and sustainable farming and agri-food sector through improved animal health

Animal Health Ireland, 2-5 The Archways, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim, N41 WN27
Phone 071 9671928 Email ahi@animalhealthireland.ie
 Calving and Care of the Newborn Calf | Page 3

If full-term calves are stillborn or die within 24 hours, or if calves are too weak to drink after birth, you should
investigate the points laid out in this leaflet and discuss what might be the underlying problems with your
veterinary practitioner. In carrying out any investigation, it may be necessary for your veterinary practitioner to
submit relevant samples (e.g. calf carcasses, placentas, blood samples) to the local veterinary laboratory.

What can you do in advance to prevent calving problems?

Ensure heifers are at their target weight at calving

Heifers should have reached at least 60 – 65% of their mature body weight at breeding, should be calving at 24
months of age, and should have attained 90% of the mature body weight of the herd’s mid-lactation four-year-old
cows. To establish or check what the mature body weight of the herd is, weigh some mid-lactation four-year-old cows
in the herd. Aim to manage the body condition at calving to reach values between 3.0 and 3.25 for dairy and 2.75 to
3.25 for suckler cows (5-point scale).

Well grown first calvers are essential.

Choose an easy calving sire

On average, some breeds will have more difficult calvings than other breeds; this is particularly true for beef breeds.

There is as much variation between individual sires within a breed, as there is between breeds for calving difficulty,
gestation length and still birth rate.

When choosing an AI sire, comparing the economic breeding index (EBI) is as important as the breed you choose.
With stock bulls, without such genetic information, there can be a greater risk of unknown calving dates, calving
problems, big calves and calf losses.

Regular weighing is required to know if heifers are on target.

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 Calving and Care of the Newborn Calf | Page 4

Feed a balanced diet during pregnancy

Imbalances in minerals, particularly calcium, magnesium, potassium, iodine and selenium, can occur with home-
grown forage-only diets. Provide supplementary minerals and vitamins during the last two months of pregnancy. Be
aware that a straw-only diet can reduce colostrum quality.

Control infectious diseases

Stillborn, weak or sick calves can be caused by infections of the cow. Discuss the appropriate strategies for a herd
health plan with your veterinary practitioner.

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 Calving and Care of the Newborn Calf | Page 5

How to manage calvings to reduce calving problems and calf losses?

Calving unit
Calving facilities should be clean, well-bedded, with good lighting and have an adequate supply of clean water. The
calving unit should be equipped with a self-locking restraining gate (preferably suitable for Caesarean Section) and
should not be used to accommodate sick cattle.

Individual calving boxes are preferable. Depending on the precalving movement policy, the calving pattern and the
residency time in the pen, at least one individual calving pen (4m by 4m) may be required per 25 cows.

Well-managed, group-calving units (loose pens, pads, paddocks) can also provide suitable calving accommodation.

To minimise disease, ensure calf pens and housing are clean.

Move pregnant animals to the calving unit before calving begins

• Moving pregnant animals to the calving unit before calving begins reduces stress at calving, which can be a
particular problem in heifers.
• Inspect the animals near to calving (based on breeding/pregnancy detection records) at least twice daily, and
move them into the calving unit when you detect signs of impending calving (see below).
• If a cow is already ‘sick to calve’, when first observed, it may be better to wait until she has started to calve
(waterbag or foetal hooves are visible) before moving her into the calving unit. This advice applies particularly
in the case of heifers.

Signs that calving is close ‘Sick to calve’ signs to look for

Softening of the pin bone ligaments Tail raised

Swollen udder Mucus at vulva

Dripping colostrum Restless - standing and lying frequently

Observe all calvings if possible

• If cows are ‘sick to calve’, keep a discreet eye on them every two hours. Do not move, disturb or unnecessarily
handle cows during this period. Supervision does not imply intervention, as most calvings do not require
assistance.
• Keep a particularly close eye on high-risk calvings or calvings which are likely to be prolonged, e.g. overfat
heifers, heifers in calf to a sire known to produce big calves, cows carrying twins and cows with a history of
milk fever.
• Calving cameras can be a useful aid to reduce the workload involved in 24h calving supervision and to avoid
disturbing the calving, particularly for heifers which are more sensitive to stress.
• Evening or nightime feeding can reduce, although not eliminate, the number of night calvings.

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 Calving and Care of the Newborn Calf | Page 6

Intervene if calving is not progressing normally

After six hours (unless there is an obvious reason for earlier intervention) of being ‘sick to calve’ without the waterbag
or feet appearing, examine the birth passage with a lubricated, gloved hand. (Dispose the gloves carefully after calving).

Depending on what you find:

• Give more time to calve (calf normally presented
and cow straining intermittently).
• Intervene if possible (e.g. calf with head or legs
down).
• Call your veterinary pracititioner if you are
presented with an oversized calf, calf coming
backwards, dead or deformed calf, intertwined
twins, twisted womb, smelly or bloody discharge.
If in doubt, phone your veterinary practitioner for advice,
as rushing in to assist when the cervix and vulva are not
fully open can be as detrimental as waiting too long to
intervene. Attach ropes above the fetlocks.

If the emergence of the waterbag or fetal hooves was

not observed, as long as the cow is straining and making
progress over half an hour, intervention is not required.

If the calf has not been born within two hours (three
hours for heifers) after the waterbag or foetal hooves have
appeared, examine the birth passage and the calf with a
lubricated gloved hand.

Intervention is required where the calving is not likely

to progress further at a normal rate without assistance
or where the calf appears distressed (swollen tongue or Set up calving jack.
head, bluish gums, poor reflexes). Assistance may be in the
form of:

• Lubrication.
• Manual pulling of the calf.
• Pulling of the calf with the help of the calving jack.

A decision must be made as to when the degree of calving

difficulty exceeds the skill of the operator and when to
seek veterinary assistance.

Intervene only when necessary. Only pull when the cow is forcing.

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 Calving and Care of the Newborn Calf | Page 7

Improve your calving skills

The ability to deliver a live calf and healthy cow, at an

assisted calving, can vary due to skill levels and practice.

• You can improve your calving skills by observing

how your veterinary practitioner deals with a
problem calving and discussing with them on how
to improve your techniques.
• Having good calving equipment (e.g. non-slip
calving jack, disinfected coloured calving ropes,
lubricant, arm-length gloves) in the calving unit
Only pull when the cow is forcing.
will facilitate good calving technique. Coloured
ropes will ensure you don’t lose the ropes in the
straw bedding.

Calving Tips
• Ensure the cow is standing before attempting to
correct a wrongly presented calf.
• Put ropes on above the fetlock, ensuring that the
knots are not on the sides of the legs.
• Only pull when the cow forces and relax the ropes Check the calf for breathing and alertness.
when she relaxes.
• Pull on alternate legs until the head emerges and
rotate the calf after the chest emerges to prevent
a hiplock.

Good technique is particularly important where a calving

jack is used as it can cause severe injuries to both the cow
and calf if used incorrectly.

Clean jack and ropes directly after each calving to minimise disease spread.

www.AnimalHealthIreland.ie
 Calving and Care of the Newborn Calf | Page 8

How best manage your newborn calves?

The ‘Golden Hour’ after calving

The first hour after calving is the most critical period in the entire life of the calf.

This is when:

• Resuscitation may be needed.

• The dairy calf needs to be removed from the cow.
• You can prevent navel ill.

Colostrum needs to be fed within two hours after calving. See AHI leaflet Colostrum Management for further details
click here. Delaying any of these jobs will result in increased risk of calf disease and death.

Calf resuscitation
Most calves do not need resuscitation. However, high-risk calves from problem calvings will benefit from resuscitative
care during and immediately after calving.

High risk calves requiring resuscitation can be identified

Before birth During birth After birth

By large limbs, swollen tongue or

By the predicted likelihood of By no breathing or gasping/
head, bluish gums and muzzle,
a problem calving (premature, bellowing, lying flat out unable to lift
yellow/brown/red stained birth
wrongly presented calf, twins, slow the head and slow to sit up, stand
fluids and poor reflex response to
calving, tight calving, hard calving). and to suck.
pinching between the hooves.

Where you identify a high-risk calf before calving, you can begin resuscitation during calving once the calf’s chest has
emerged, for example, during a hiplock calving.

First aid can be given to a high-risk calf without any equipment:

• Once the high-risk calf is born, suspend it upside-down for a short period of time (never longer than one
minute).
• Then pour cold water over its head and/or stick a straw or finger into its nostrils.
• Place it sitting upright in the recovery position.
• Very weak, cold, wet, shivering calves should be dried off and placed under an infra red lamp.
• Ask your veterinary practitioner regarding other aids.

www.AnimalHealthIreland.ie
 Calving and Care of the Newborn Calf | Page 9

Remove the dairy calf from the cow

Once the calf is born, it is at immediate risk of picking up infections via the navel, mouth and nostrils from the calving
environment, the cow and any other animals in the same airspace.

The dairy calf should be removed from the cow immediately after birth (the cow can be allowed to lick the calf) and
placed in a clean, freshly-bedded area where it is fed colostrum. See AHI leaflet - Colostrum Management for further
details click here.

Safety at calving
A significant proportion of farm accidents are livestock-related. Attacks by recently calved cows are a common
cause of such accidents. In addition, zoonotic infections can be contracted by farmers and their veterinary
practitioners around calving.

• When handling cows at calving (particularly if they are calving prematurely or if the calf is dead a while)
always wear arm length gloves and washable protective clothing and boots.
• When handling the newborn calf never turn your back on the cow and always keep a locked gate between
you and the cow when removing the calf.

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 Calving and Care of the Newborn Calf | Page 10

Preventing navel ill

Check regularly for navel ill – handle the navel of all calves with clean or gloved hands at birth and in the first week
of life to check for excessive bleeding, pain, abnormal swelling, odour or pus and treat as recommended by your
veterinary practitioner.

If you have problems with navel ill in your calves it is important to not only focus on the care of the cord but to
investigate the possibility of infection spreading from the environment into the calf via the navel cord.

Treat navel immediately after calf is born. Check to ensure total coverage of the navel cord.

To prevent navel ill you need to address all risk factors that lead to high contamination of the environment and low
immunity of the calf:

• Improve calf immunity: ensure the newborn calf gets an adequate volume of good quality colostrum as soon
as possible after calving, see the AHI leaflet - Colostrum Management click here.
• Ensure calves are born in a clean, freshly bedded calving unit.
• Remove the calf from the calving area immediately and move to a clean calf pen.
• Treat the navel immediately after calf is born and check to ensure total coverage of the navel cord.
• Dress the navel cord as appropriate:
» if you have no navel ill problems in your calves, do not alter your navel cord care
» if do you have navel ill problems and do not currently dress the cord, start doing so by dipping the cord in
an antiseptic solution, for example, chlorhexidine or iodine, and/or focus on the other remedial measures
listed here
» if the cord is dressed and navil ill continues to be a problem, alter your procedure (e.g. change from iodine
to chlorhexidine, dip instead of spray) and focus on the other remedial measures listed here.

www.AnimalHealthIreland.ie
 Calving and Care of the Newborn Calf | Page 11

For more information consult the Animal Welfare Guidelines issued by the Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Council
http://www.fawac.ie/media/fawac/content/publications/animalwelfare/Calf%20Welfare%20Guidelines%20%20FAWAC.pdf

TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP

Catherine McAloon- (Chair) University College Dublin, Charles Chavasse - Zoetis, Muireann Conneely - Teagasc, Christine Cummins - Bonanza Calf Nutrition,
Grainne Dwyer - Animal Health Ireland, Bernadette Earley - Teagasc, Liam Gannon - Volac, John Gilmore - Veterinary Practitioner, Ciara Hayes - DAFM, Ian
Hogan - DAFM, Emer Kennedy - Teagasc, Mark Little - Trouw Nutrition, John Mee - Teagasc.

TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP RAPPORTEUR

Michelle McGrath - Animal Health Ireland.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
All images contained in this leaflet are the property of AHI, or have been included with the permission of the owner. Please seek permission from AHI if you wish
to use these images and provide the correct attribution of ownership when reproducing them. If reusing any other material in this leaflet, please attribute AHI
as the source.

IMPORTANT NOTICE - DISCLAIMER

CalfCare Leaflet Series Vol.5, Ver. 1,March 2021

This leaflet is issued and shall be read only on the basis that it will not relied upon by any person as a basis for any act or omission or otherwise without obtaining
professional veterinary and health and safety verification and advice and that no liability or responsibility to any person is accepted or shall be incurred, and no recourse
or claim by any person will be made, by or against AHI,any stakeholder, collaborator, officer, agent, subcontractor or employee of AHI, any member of the Technical
Working Group, any contributor to, author, publisher, distributor, reviewer, compiler or promoter of or any other person in respect of or in connection with the leaflet
or the contents thereof or any matter omitted therefrom.No representation or guarantee is given, whether by AHI or any other such person, that the contents of this
information leaflet are comprehensive, up to date, or free from error or omissions, nor that the advice provided is appropriate in every particular circumstance.

The contents of this information leaflet are not intended to be a substitute for appropriate direct advice from your veterinary practitioner. Appropriate veterinary and
health and safety advice should be taken before taking or refraining from taking action in relation to the animal disease dealt with in this information leaflet. The contents
of this leaflet may be updated, corrected, varied or superseded from to time by later publications or material on the AHI website and reference should be made to that
website accordingly.

Any references in this booklet or links in the AHI website to external websites or other resources are provided for convenience only and the contents thereof are not to
be considered as endorsed thereby.

2–5 The Archways, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim N41 WN27.

Phone 071 9671928
Email ahi@animalhealthireland.ie
Web www.animalhealthireland.ie

www.AnimalHealthIreland.ie