Newborn Calf Care: The First 24 Hours

Most calves hit the ground, shake their heads, get up and nurse within an hour or two. A rancher who watches from a distance sees this a hundred times a season. But every year, a few calves need help: one that is not breathing well, one too weak to nurse or one born into freezing rain. What you do in the first hours can make the difference between a live calf and a loss.

This guide covers what to watch for after birth, how to help a calf breathe and warm up, why colostrum is critical and what to do about navels, hypothermia and weak calves. Details depend on weather, herd and facilities, so work with your veterinarian to build a calving plan. If you want to find calving schools and vet clinics near you, agriculture.directory can help you find agriculture events in your area.

The First Few Minutes

A healthy calf begins breathing within moments of birth and tries to stand within the first hour. Watch from a distance to let the cow do her job. If the calf is not breathing, quickly clear mucus from the nose and mouth. Rubbing the calf vigorously with a towel or straw, or tickling its nostril with a piece of straw, can stimulate breathing. Be careful about techniques you have not been trained to use, and ask your vet to show you the right way before calving season. Extension programs, including University of Minnesota Extension and Nebraska Beef, publish illustrated guides.

Let the Cow Clean the Calf

The cow licks the calf, which dries it and stimulates circulation and bonding. If the cow is slow to start, or the weather is cold and wet, you may need to help by drying the calf with towels. Do not take the calf away from the cow unless necessary, because bonding happens fast, and a rejected calf is much more work.

Colostrum Is Everything

Calves are born with very little immunity and depend on colostrum, the cow's first milk, which carries antibodies. Calves absorb these antibodies best in the first hours after birth, and absorption declines quickly over the first day. Many guides recommend that a calf nurse within the first few hours, ideally within the first two to six hours. Watch to make sure the calf finds the teat and actually nurses. Large udders and teats, especially in heifers, can make it hard for calves to latch. If a calf does not nurse, talk to your vet about assisted feeding with colostrum or a commercial replacer. Tube feeding can be dangerous if done wrong, so learn from your vet first.

Navel Care

The navel is an open door for bacteria. Many ranchers dip or spray the navel with iodine or an approved antiseptic soon after birth, though some herds with clean calving conditions skip it, so ask your vet for advice. Check navels in the first days for swelling, heat or discharge, which can signal infection and need prompt veterinary attention.

Keep Calves Warm and Dry

Cold, wet newborn calves can lose body heat quickly and develop hypothermia. Signs include shivering, weakness, cold ears and mouth and failure to stand. In cold weather, provide windbreaks, dry bedding and shelter, and calve in a clean, dry area when possible. A calf that is chilled needs to be warmed gradually and fed. Many ranchers use a warming box, a heat lamp used carefully with safe distance and fire precautions, or warm towels. Do not feed a very cold calf before warming it, and ask your vet for advice on proper protocol.

Signs of a Weak Calf

• Slow to stand or unable to stand after an hour or two.
• Does not nurse, or has a weak suckle reflex.
• Cold mouth and ears.
• Labored or noisy breathing.
• Dull, depressed behavior.
• Swollen joints or navel.

A weak calf may need help. Call your veterinarian early.

Check the Cow Too

After calving, check that the cow passes the afterbirth, usually within several hours to a day, and watch for signs of trouble, such as fever, depression or retained placenta. A cow with problems may not care for her calf properly. Make sure she has access to feed and water.

Records and Identification

Tag calves, record birth dates, sex, dam and sire and note any difficulties. Good records help with later decisions about culling and breeding. Many ranchers also weigh calves at birth. Tagging is easier when calves are young and cows are calm, but approach carefully, since a protective cow can be dangerous.

Work Safely

A mother cow will protect her calf, even if she is normally calm. Keep a barrier between you and the cow when handling a calf, use a calving pen or a gate and have an escape route. Never work alone if you can avoid it. Programs such as Beef Quality Assurance teach safe handling.

Common Mistakes

• Interfering too early. Most calves do fine without help.
• Not checking that the calf nursed. Colostrum is critical.
• Ignoring cold. Wet, windy weather kills calves.
• Dirty calving areas. Clean pens reduce infections.
• Poor records. Information helps future decisions.
• Waiting too long to call the vet. Early help saves calves.

Keep Learning

Farm.fm has a page on improving reproductive success in Angus herds for general background. Our guide to pulling calves covers the delivery itself. For a laugh in the middle of calving season, see farm.fm's humor piece on the cattle herd hitting a 75-year low and cows demanding benefits.