2020 Speckle Park Journal "Breeding Book"

HERDCONSULT
resuscitating
calves
In both the beef and dairy industries, producers have
discussed many ideas among themselves regarding the best
ways to stimulate a weak calf that perhaps doesn’t want to
breathe. With calving season just around the corner, this
is a good time to explore techniques and get the calving
maternity area supplied and stocked up. I will share some of
my experiences as to what works and what doesn’t, and also
highlight procedures that are worth performing and others
that are a waste of time. None require a lot of expense, and
saving one extra calf converts into dollars down the line, not
to mention it is doing the right thing.
The need to stimulate calves should be the exception in
today’s cow-calf operations. Calving problems have been
greatly reduced, so unless it is a difficult birth or there has
been a delay in getting the calf out, such as a full breech
presentation, resuscitation shouldn’t be a routine occurrence.
There are many reasons calves may be
born weak, and recognizing when these
conditions could occur will help you
be more prepared. Malpresentations,
torsions, harder pulls, and meconium
staining create an increased possibility
of the calf coming out weak, which
means time is of the essence. Other
potential causes may include a cow
experiencing weight loss due to sickness,
or abnormalities during pregnancy.
Alternatively, a cow losing body condition
in late pregnancy could be carrying twins.
After any assisted calving it is a good idea
to carefully examine the uterus for tears
or another calf. If you find a second calf,
assist in its delivery immediately.
I have also seen the need to resuscitate
when the water bag fails to break, as calves
can drown in as little as one cup of fetal
fluids. It isn’t always the result of a delayed
birth – even calves born naturally with
the water bag over the mouth may need
resuscitation. This can also happen in a
very quick birth in which the water bag
has not had enough force on it to break.
Watch for these cases as well.
There are several forms of resuscitation
or easing newborn calves’ breathing. If you
see there is a strong heartbeat, the goal is
then to establish breathing and oxygenate
the blood. One thing we know for sure
is that hanging calves to drain fluid out
does no good, and in fact, actually makes
it much more difficult for the calf to
breathe as all the organs are pushed down
by gravity onto the lungs. The fluid that
does come out is generally draining out
from the stomachs (rumen). You are much
better to get the calf sitting up in a froglegged
position with both back legs pulled
forward. This way, both lungs can get air
equally as much, as would happen with a
standing calf. Extend the neck forward to
open up the airways and then go to work
with what I will now describe.
Wipe away any large amounts of mucous
around the mouth. There are some good calf resuscitators
that simply bathe the area in extra oxygen, which helps if
breathing is not strong. Some of these provide suction as
well. Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation is ineffective, as the air
simply goes down the esophagus and inflates the stomach –
it doesn’t get into the lungs where it needs to go.
If breathing is slow with a stronger heartbeat, you are
best to stimulate breathing by either sticking a piece of
straw into the nostril, pouring cold water in the ear, or
putting cold snow in the ear to essentially irritate the
calf and get it going. Try the straw on a normal calving
sometime to see the quick response you get.
If there is no response, the calf is in trouble. The only
thing I have found that works is a respiratory stimulant; this
used to be Dopram or Doxapram, but now some clinics need
to get it formulated by a pharmacist. Your veterinarian can
44 THE SPECKLE PARK JOURNAL