by Sandy Stuttgen

A difficult calving is called dystocia. Providing the right care following dystocia makes a huge difference for both the dam and her calf.  

A newborn calf actively shakes its head, snorts, shivers, takes deep breaths and tries to stand.

Weak calf syndrome occurs after a long labor — more than 30 minutes for cows and 60 minutes for heifers — when carbon dioxide builds up in the calf. This leads to poor breathing, slow heart rate and low internal body temperature. Weak calves are slow to stand and nurse, often becoming depressed. Many of these calves scour and die within their first week.

Stimulate the calf

Good mothering stimulates calves. However, exhausted dams may show little interest in their calves. Hydrating the dam reduces her exhaustion and boosts her interest. Offer the dam warm water to drink right after the birth, and make it more interesting by mixing in electrolytes or milk replacer. Cows do not like to put their head into deep narrow buckets, so refill a short, shallow bucket until she is satisfied.

Pen the dam and calf together until their bond is established.

Sometimes, you need to act like the mom: Vigorously towel-dry the calf, tickle its nostrils with a firm piece of straw, pour cold water in its ear and turn it from side to side. Salting the calf or sprinkling sweet feed over it will stimulate the dam to lick the calf.

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Giving caffeine orally perks up dull calves within 15 to 30 minutes. You can use caffeinated energy drinks — just read the label and give the appropriate dose (100 to 200 milligrams of caffeine). Use a needleless syringe to gently deliver the dose to the back and left side of the calf’s mouth.

The Madigan Squeeze Technique helps a newborn calf anytime in its first two days. This technique involves squeezing the calf’s chest for 20 minutes by gently pulling on the trailing end of a soft rope that is looped three times around the calf. A rope halter works well for this. This mimics the squeeze through the birth canal, which helps the calf transition from a sleeplike state in the womb to being active outside.

Consult your veterinarian to determine if pain medication for the cow or calf following dystocia is warranted. A University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension research review of flunixin meglumine, meloxicam and acetylsalicylic acid found only acetylsalicylic acid to have the potential for reducing inflammation and pain following dystocia in dairy cattle.

Provide colostrum

The calf must nurse several times in the first six hours to get colostrum. Hand-milk the cow, or feed good-quality refrigerated or frozen colostrum or colostrum replacer (containing 100 to 150 IgG per dose) when the nursing quantity or quality is suspect. Milk-based colostrum replacers are preferred over serum-based ones. Mix and feed colostrum replacers exactly as their label indicates. If the calf can’t or won’t nurse, use a bottle or an esophageal tube.

Whenever possible, and especially after assisted births, soak the newborn’s navel in 7% iodine or another disinfectant recommended by your veterinarian. The navel is attached to the liver, and it will wick pathogens from the environment. Keep the calf’s environment clean and dry before the navel dries and falls off.

Keep stressed calves following a difficult birth dry and warm by providing deep, fluffy bedding that covers their legs and belly when resting.

After dystocia, both cows and calves need hydration, time to bond and a well-bedded area in which to recover. Talk with your veterinarian about providing caffeine or a Madigan squeeze to the calf, or pain relief for the cow or calf following a difficult calving.

Stuttgen is a veterinarian and a University of Wisconsin Extension livestock educator for Taylor County.