Calves that require birthing assistance are physically stressed.
Occasionally, this stress is obvious. Calves lacking in oxygen will release their first bowel movement, called the meconium, into the amniotic sac, staining them yellow.
A severely stressed calf may not be breathing when it is finally delivered, so it will need to be resuscitated.
Before initiating resuscitation, it is important to determine whether the calf’s heart is beating.
The easiest way to check for a heartbeat is to use a stethoscope. A low cost one is suitable for this purpose. If it has no heartbeat, successful revival is unlikely, but can be attempted.
Read Also
Crop insurance’s ability to help producers has its limitations
Farmers enrolled in crop insurance can do just as well financially when they have a horrible crop or no crop at all, compared to when they have a below average crop
If a calf has a beating heart but is not breathing, immediate intervention is needed.
The first thing to do is clear fluid from the calf’s lungs. During a normal delivery, the calf’s chest is compressed as it squeezes through the birth canal. This pushes fluid out of its lungs, making it much easier for the calf to take its first breath.
If a calf is born by C-section or suffers a prolonged delivery, it may not have this advantage.
To clear this unwanted fluid, many producers hang the calf over a fence or gate with its body on one side and its hind legs on the other. This technique has been criticized because the calf’s internal organs push down on its diaphragm. The calf has more difficulty breathing because of the increased pressure on the lungs.
Also, when fluid runs out of the calf’s mouth in this position, not much comes from the lungs; most originates from the stomach. Despite these criticisms, some producers and veterinarians still find it useful to hang a calf in this manner, but it should only be done for less than a minute.
The preferred approach is to place the calf on a square bale, or even over a barrel, in a sternal position, which is upright with chest toward the ground. Pulling the calf’s hind legs up to its ears will help stabilize it. Recent research confirms that a calf in a sternal position has better air transfer than one left on its side.
Once the calf is positioned, the next step is to clean out its mouth with a paper towel. Breathing should then be stimulated. This can sometimes be achieved by passing a piece of straw up the calf’s nostril, or by pouring cold water in an ear to stimulate head shaking. Some producers prefer to thump on the calf’s chest to trigger breathing.
Calf resuscitators may also be helpful. To use one, the calf is positioned with its head extended to open its airway. The resuscitator, which fits over the calf’s muzzle, is then squeezed to inflate the lungs. Most manufacturers recommend delivering five pumps, then stopping to watch for spontaneous breathing.
Some vets recommend oxygen therapy for newborns that have trouble breathing because 100 percent oxygen delivered directly into the nasal passages is superior to the 20 percent oxygen content of regular air. A simple air tube placed up one nostril can supply pure oxygen from a small oxygen tank to the back of the throat.
With all the methods available, what is the most effective way to stimulate newborn calves? A study reported in the Veterinary Journal reviewed three methods –
suctioning out the calf’s throat with a hand-powered vacuum pump, pouring five litres of cold water over the calf’s head, and putting the calf in a pen heated with infrared radiant heaters.
What they found is that each method has its advantages in the right circumstances.
If the calf needs stimulation to initiate breathing, cold water is indicated. This technique also changes a calf’s breathing pattern in a way that improves gas exchange. If the calf is chilled, its temperature is best maintained by infrared heat. If fluid is present in its airways, suction is beneficial.
Jeff Grognet is a veterinarian and writer practising in Qualicum Beach, B.C.
