Warming up a cold calf

This week will bring incredibly frigid temperatures to south central South Dakota. With calving already started it's time to make sure you are prepared to warm that new born calf up. 

Firstly every rancher should have a thermometer in their pocket this time of year. Making a decision on how to manage a chilled calf means you need to know its temperature. The normal temperature of a calf is between 101.5 and 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. If their temperature is below 101.5 you need to intervene.

So, if the calf has a temperature below 101.5 but above 99 degrees Fahrenheit you need to do the following:

• Move the calf inside, out of the wind and off the cold ground
• Dry the calf off
• Get warm air moving over the calf (like a heater or calf box)
• Once temperature is over 100 feed colostrum from the dam or feed a replacer as per packet instructions.

If the calf has a temperature below 100 when you feed colostrum, absorption will be limited. This will affect their immune system for life. A cold calf will also have slow digestion which greatly increases the chance of bad bacteria, like clostridium, proliferating in the intestine. This is why it is vital to make sure the calf is warm enough before you feed it. Don't use colostrum to "warm the calf up".

If the calf has a temperature below 99 degrees Fahrenheit you will need to do the following:

• Move the calf inside, out of the wind and off the cold ground
• Place in a warm water bath (as warm as you would bathe in)
  • Make sure the water is constantly running/recirculating and staying warm
  • Make sure the bath is cleaned and disinfected between each calf.
• Keep in warm bath until temperature is over 100
• Dry calf off and put in area where hot air is moving over calf
• Once temperature is over 100 feed colostrum from the dam or feed a replacer as per packet instructions.

When the body temperature of a calf falls below 99 degrees Fahrenheit the calf stops sending blood to their skin and extremities, (vasoconstricts). The reason they do this is to is to ensure blood is getting to the internal organs. This means that simply putting a calf with a core temperature below 99 in a hot box, or near a heater wont increase its body temperature. Bathing in a hot water bath encourages blood vessels to return to the skin and extremities (vasodilation). This then allows the hot air method to work. 

Bathing and drying off a calf can remove the mother's scent. It is important that special attention be paid to this calf, once returned to the dam, to make sure mothering up occurs. Once the calf is dry, had colostrum and has been seen to nurse it can return outside. 

These cold temperatures are tough on us as well as cattle. Remember Animal Clinic Ltd. is always here to help with any of your calving questions.