Consequences of poor adaptation   Decreased activity, lethargy Low blood oxygen Heat loss, low body temperature Delayed intake of colostrum decreased energy/ nutrient intake decreased fluid volume decreased Ig consumption Decreased disease resistanc

Garry, Franklyn

English

DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska

University of Nebraska - LincolnDigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - LincolnRange Beef Cow Symposium Animal Science Department11-2015Managing Compromised and Weak Calves at BirthFranklyn GarryFollow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/rangebeefcowsympThis Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Animal Science Department at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It hasbeen accepted for inclusion in Range Beef Cow Symposium by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln.Garry, Franklyn, "Managing Compromised and Weak Calves at Birth" (2015). Range Beef Cow Symposium. 370.http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/rangebeefcowsymp/370Page 1 Managing Compromised and Weak Calves at Birth Franklyn Garry, DVM, MS Cow/calf income/profit u Pounds of weaned calf sold  u For every calf that dies, that would have been sold at 550 lbs, you need to increase weaning weight of the next 11 calves by 50 lbs to make up the difference. Beef Calf Death Loss Estimates ◆  5 - 8% from delivery to weaning  ◆  Age distribution   50%  within 24 hr   70% by three days   75% within 1 week Adapting to life outside the uterus u Tremendous physiologic transition u Not always successful Neonatal adaptation u Respiratory u Cardiovascular u Metabolic u Fluid balance u Thermoregulation u Musculo-skeletal u Neurologic Organ system changes u Pulmonary (Lung) blood flow  u Ventilation u lung expansion u lung fluid u Physical/muscular activity u Blood volume – oxygen delivery Blood oxygenation Oxygen delivery Page 2 Fluid volume and balance u ‘Swimming pool’ environment u Normal tissue hydration u Blood volume contraction u Need fluid supplementation to maintain circulatory volume u Non-shivering u Shivering u Physical activity Thermogenesis (= heat generation) Thermogenesis u “Brown fat” = about 2% of BW in calves u Aerobic metabolism = requires oxygen u Blood shunted through brown fat to increase body temperature Non-Shivering u Shivering of skin and skeletal muscle u  Increases heat production by 33-100% u Hypoxemic calves do not shiver Thermogenesis Shivering u Trying to stand calf increases heat production by 33-100% u  In first 10 min of standing calf increases heat production by 100% u Calves that do not try to stand get very cold, very fast Thermogenesis Physical activity Consequences of poor adaptation u Decreased activity, lethargy u Low blood oxygen u Heat loss, low body temperature u Delayed intake of colostrum u decreased energy/ nutrient intake u decreased fluid volume u decreased Ig consumption u Decreased disease resistance Page 3 Slow to adapt Lethargic, inactive u Time to Stand Delayed suckling u Time to Nurse Low body temperature Assessment of Vigor u Head-right, sternal recumbence, attempt to stand, standing u 3, 5, 20, 60 minutes, respectively u ↑ 15 min to sternal =        84% predictive of nonvitality u  Schuijt G., Taverne MA. Vet Record. 1994; 135. Normal newborn calves v   Uncomplicated vaginal delivery v   Time to stand  < 1 hour v   Good mothering v    Body temperature maintenance v  101-102F v   Active suckling  < 2 hours v   Attentive, responsive, active Normal calves at birth u Transient hypoxia/ischemia u Mild respiratory and  metabolic acidosis u Mild hypoxemia u Lactic acidosis Role of the dam in postnatal survival u “Mothering” u Maternal-neonatal bonding Abnormal Neonatal Adaptation  Dystocia   Premature birth   Illness in dam   In-utero problems Page 4 Effects of Dystocia ◆  Prolonged hypoxia, ischemia                   ⇒ asphyxia  ◆  Lactic acidosis Management to decrease calf losses u Decrease occurrence of dystocia u Manage dystocia to decrease impact on calves and dams u Identify abnormal calves and provide more care Neonatal Assistance ü  Stimulate and enhance respiration ü Assist in ventilation of the lungs (breathing) ü Stimulate by rubbing / drying calf ü  Maintain body temperature (thermoregulation) ü Provide supplemental heat ü  Increase blood volume and provide energy ü Administer colostrum Neonatal Assistance ü  Stimulate and enhance respiration ü  Place in sternal recumbency ü  Remove mucus from airway ü  Vigorous drying/rubbing on chest ü  Provide positive pressure ventilation ü  Administration of oxygen Page 5 O2 flow rate=	2-4L/min 	Oxygen Administration Neonatal Assistance ü  Maintain body temperature (thermoregulation) ü Calves generate heat (thermogenesis)via: ü  Physical activity – most important source of heat ü  Shivering – involuntary muscle contractions ü  Nonshivering (1° Brown fat) ü Calves lose heat via: ü  Evaporation – reduce by drying calves (also stimulates   respiration) ü  Conduction – reduce by providing straw or other bedding ü  Convection – reduce exposure to wind; dry calves Neonatal Assistance ü  Maintain body temperature ü Supplemental heat sources ü  Heaters, hot water bottles; warming hut ü  Colostrum – also provides energy for activity  ü  Calf jacket ü If calf’s temp is 100° or less – provide heat source ü Drying, stimulation,  heat supplementation, shelter www.polydome.com	Page 6 http://genex.crinet.com	Food for Thought:  Thermogenesis u Infrared heater for 24 hrs postpartum u Significant improvements to: u Rectal temp, So2(%), tidal volume, dynamic lung compliance, & respiratory rate Uystepruyst CH, et al. Vet J (2002) 52. Neonatal Assistance ü  Increase blood volume and provide energy Acidosis u Metabolic and respiratory u Low blood volume u Lactic acidosis u Blood volume expansion, energy metabolism u Respiratory acidosis u Increased ventilation Non-immunoglobulin Components of Colostrum u Other immune-active agents u Optimum source of standard nutritional elements u Concentrated energy, protein, vitamins, minerals u Fluid, warmth Page 7 Neonatal Assistance ü  Stimulate and enhance respiration ü Sternal recumbency ü Mechanical ventilation ü Oxygen therapy ü  Maintain body temperature ü Heaters ü Blankets ü  Increase blood volume and provide energy ü Colostrum  

Managing Compromised
and Weak Calves at Birth

UNL | Libraries

University of Nebraska - Lincoln
DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Range Beef Cow Symposium Animal Science Department
11-2015
Managing Compromised and Weak Calves at Birth
Franklyn Garry
Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/rangebeefcowsymp
This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Animal Science Department at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has
been accepted for inclusion in Range Beef Cow Symposium by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln.
Garry, Franklyn, "Managing Compromised and Weak Calves at Birth" (2015). Range Beef Cow Symposium. 370.
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/rangebeefcowsymp/370
Page 1 
Managing Compromised 
and Weak Calves at Birth 
Franklyn Garry, DVM, MS 
Cow/calf income/profit 
u Pounds of weaned calf sold  
u For every calf that dies, that would 
have been sold at 550 lbs, you need to 
increase weaning weight of the next 11 
calves by 50 lbs to make up the 
difference. 
Beef Calf Death Loss Estimates 
◆  5 - 8% from delivery to weaning 
 
◆  Age distribution 
  50%  within 24 hr 
  70% by three days 
  75% within 1 week 
Adapting to life outside the 
uterus 
u Tremendous physiologic 
transition 
u Not always successful 
Neonatal adaptation 
u Respiratory 
u Cardiovascular 
u Metabolic 
u Fluid balance 
u Thermoregulation 
u Musculo-skeletal 
u Neurologic 
Organ system changes 
u Pulmonary (Lung) blood flow  
u Ventilation 
u lung expansion 
u lung fluid 
u Physical/muscular activity 
u Blood volume – oxygen delivery 
Blood oxygenation 
Oxygen delivery 
Page 2 
Fluid volume and balance 
u ‘Swimming pool’ environment 
u Normal tissue hydration 
u Blood volume contraction 
u Need fluid supplementation to 
maintain circulatory volume 
u Non-shivering 
u Shivering 
u Physical activity 
Thermogenesis 
(= heat generation) 
Thermogenesis 
u “Brown fat” = about 2% of BW in 
calves 
u Aerobic metabolism = requires 
oxygen 
u Blood shunted through brown fat to 
increase body temperature 
Non-Shivering 
u Shivering of skin and skeletal muscle 
u  Increases heat production by 
33-100% 
u Hypoxemic calves do not shiver 
Thermogenesis 
Shivering 
u Trying to stand calf increases heat 
production by 33-100% 
u  In first 10 min of standing calf 
increases heat production by 100% 
u Calves that do not try to stand get 
very cold, very fast 
Thermogenesis 
Physical activity 
Consequences of poor adaptation 
u Decreased activity, lethargy 
u Low blood oxygen 
u Heat loss, low body temperature 
u Delayed intake of colostrum 
u decreased energy/ nutrient intake 
u decreased fluid volume 
u decreased Ig consumption 
u Decreased disease resistance 
Page 3 
Slow to adapt 
Lethargic, inactive 
u Time to Stand 
Delayed suckling 
u Time to Nurse 
Low body temperature 
Assessment of Vigor 
u Head-right, sternal recumbence, 
attempt to stand, standing 
u 3, 5, 20, 60 minutes, respectively 
u ↑ 15 min to sternal =  
      84% predictive of nonvitality 
u  Schuijt G., Taverne MA. Vet Record. 1994; 135. 
Normal newborn calves 
v   Uncomplicated vaginal delivery 
v   Time to stand  < 1 hour 
v   Good mothering 
v    Body temperature maintenance 
v  101-102F 
v   Active suckling  < 2 hours 
v   Attentive, responsive, active 
Normal calves at birth 
u Transient hypoxia/ischemia 
u Mild respiratory and  metabolic 
acidosis 
u Mild hypoxemia 
u Lactic acidosis 
Role of the dam in postnatal 
survival 
u “Mothering” 
u Maternal-neonatal bonding 
Abnormal Neonatal Adaptation 
 Dystocia 
 
 Premature birth 
 
 Illness in dam 
 
 In-utero problems 
Page 4 
Effects of Dystocia 
◆  Prolonged hypoxia, ischemia 
                  ⇒ asphyxia 
 
◆  Lactic acidosis 
Management to decrease calf 
losses 
u Decrease occurrence of dystocia 
u Manage dystocia to decrease 
impact on calves and dams 
u Identify abnormal calves and 
provide more care 
Neonatal Assistance 
ü  Stimulate and enhance respiration 
ü Assist in ventilation of the lungs (breathing) 
ü Stimulate by rubbing / drying calf 
ü  Maintain body temperature 
(thermoregulation) 
ü Provide supplemental heat 
ü  Increase blood volume and provide 
energy 
ü Administer colostrum 
Neonatal Assistance 
ü  Stimulate and enhance respiration 
ü  Place in sternal recumbency 
ü  Remove mucus from airway 
ü  Vigorous drying/rubbing on chest 
ü  Provide positive pressure ventilation 
ü  Administration of oxygen 
Page 5 
O2 flow rate=	

2-4L/min 	

Oxygen Administration 
Neonatal Assistance 
ü  Maintain body temperature (thermoregulation) 
ü Calves generate heat (thermogenesis)via: 
ü  Physical activity – most important source of heat 
ü  Shivering – involuntary muscle contractions 
ü  Nonshivering (1° Brown fat) 
ü Calves lose heat via: 
ü  Evaporation – reduce by drying calves (also stimulates 
  respiration) 
ü  Conduction – reduce by providing straw or other 
bedding 
ü  Convection – reduce exposure to wind; dry calves 
Neonatal Assistance 
ü  Maintain body temperature 
ü Supplemental heat sources 
ü  Heaters, hot water bottles; warming hut 
ü  Colostrum – also provides energy for activity  
ü  Calf jacket 
ü If calf’s temp is 100° or less – provide heat 
source 
ü Drying, stimulation,  
heat supplementation, shelter 
www.polydome.com	

Page 6 
http://genex.crinet.com	

Food for Thought:  Thermogenesis 
u Infrared heater for 24 hrs postpartum 
u Significant improvements to: 
u Rectal temp, So2(%), tidal volume, 
dynamic lung compliance, & respiratory 
rate 
Uystepruyst CH, et al. Vet J (2002) 52. 
Neonatal Assistance 
ü  Increase blood volume and provide 
energy 
Acidosis 
u Metabolic and respiratory 
u Low blood volume 
u Lactic acidosis 
u Blood volume expansion, 
energy metabolism 
u Respiratory acidosis 
u Increased ventilation 
Non-immunoglobulin 
Components of Colostrum 
u Other immune-active agents 
u Optimum source of standard 
nutritional elements 
u Concentrated energy, protein, 
vitamins, minerals 
u Fluid, warmth 
Page 7 
Neonatal Assistance 
ü  Stimulate and enhance respiration 
ü Sternal recumbency 
ü Mechanical ventilation 
ü Oxygen therapy 
ü  Maintain body temperature 
ü Heaters 
ü Blankets 
ü  Increase blood volume and provide energy 
ü Colostrum  


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Managing Compromised and Weak Calves at Birth

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