Ag News
January 21, 2020 - Winter Calving: A challenge even in the best of weather conditions
Cold stress and a lack of colostrum can be fatal
At this time of year, cold stress and a lack of colostrum are two of the leading causes of early calf loss. Illness during calving can take a toll on both the calves and the cowman, making it difficult to stay on top of everything happening at all times.
That said, early intervention is the key to success when it comes to calves challenged by cold wet weather. It may be easy enough to tell when a calf is chilled but there can be uncertainty as to how long or how serious the condition is.
Some seasoned ranchers may be successful relying on past experience, but a digital thermometer is a relatively inexpensive and very handy tool to accurately determine temperature variations in an ailing calf.
Most problems with hypothermia occur in newborn calves, since they do not have the ability to regulate body temperature efficiently when first born, especially in the first few hours of life.
Mild hypothermia begins to occur as the calves’ body temperature drops below normal, or below 37.8 degrees C (100 degrees F). With a wet coat in cold temperatures, sometimes aggravated by a difficult birth, calves’ may be unable to get up right away or do not have the strength to suckle, allowing cold stress to set in.
If a calf does not suckle then it will not get much needed colostrum, compounding the problem of cold stress and considerably reducing chances of survival. Most cattle producers know that colostrum is a critical source of antibodies and specialized proteins that provide protection against infectious diseases.
This transfer of passive immunity should occur in the first hours of life as antibody absorption decreases over time with essentially no absorption possible after 24 hours following birth. When considering frozen colostrum keep in mind that quality can vary considerably among cows, breeds and farms.
The mother’s colostrum is always the best option and the calf should receive at least one liter within four hours of birth and another liter within 12 hours of birth. Colostrum not only provides 2 to 3 times more fat than mother’s milk, but also warms the calf from the inside.
If a calves’ temperature is between 35 and 38 degrees C then it is still possible to warm it up in a hot box, the truck cab or a warm room. Tubing it immediately with warm colostrum provides additional warmth and helps to ensure passive transfer of antibodies and a greater chance of survival.
For calves with a temperature below 35 degrees C time is truly of the essence. The hot box or a warm environment will not effectively warm the calf as their core temperature is so low that a dry hair coat only acts as an insulator to keep them cold.
In this instance the best method to enhance survival is to immerse the calf in warm water at 38 degrees C, or warm to the touch. As the water rapidly cools it will be necessary to continually add warm water to the bath. At the same time the calf should be tubed with warm colostrum.
Early intervention is the key to survival for high risk calves that have trouble getting up due to a difficult birth, are low on oxygen, or weak. Making sure they get adequate colostrum as soon as possible will make it less likely that they suffer from cold stress and will give them the strength to begin sucking on their own right away.
Using a thermometer helps to immediately determine the appropriate treatment so the calf gets what it needs as soon as possible. Given adequate colostrum, a dry coat and the strength to suck on their own it is amazing how well calves can do even in the coldest weather.
Upcoming Events
FREE Mountain Pine Beetle (MPB) Workshop – January 30 from 6:30 – 8:30pm at Gilby Hall. Joint hosted by Clearwater and Lacombe Counties, topics include how to identify MPB and manage your trees and what is happening on private and public lands. RSVP to 403-846-4040 or email dens@clearwatercounty.ca
FREE Water Well Workshop – February 6 from 6:00 – 9:00pm at Leslieville Elks Hall. Learn about water quality and quantity, water testing, well protection, basic maintenance and more! RSVP, with your legal land location to source a water well report, to 403-846-4040 or email dens@clearwatercounty.ca. Light supper included.
Gone Fishing. The government is asking for the public input about fisheries and their management, with a focus on increasing recreational fishing opportunities. Feedback will be reflected in the 2020 Alberta Sportfishing Regulations (April 1) and considered toward an updated fisheries management plan. One of eleven drop-in sessions will be held January 31 from 4:30-8:30 pm at the Lou Soppit Center. For those unable to attend an online survey is available through January 31. Other session dates and survey can be found at: https://talkaep.alberta.ca/aep-fisheries-management.
Get Engaged. The government is holding sessions and initiated an online survey for feedback about the future of agriculture research in Alberta. Full information can be found at: https://www.alberta.ca/farmer-led-research-engagement.aspx. Survey deadline is Jan 31.
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