ANIMAL HEALTH Care of new born calf

A. Care Of New Born Calf

·       The Golden Hour: The First Hour After Calving Is The Most Critical Period In The Entire Life Of A New Born Calf.

Important Points To Remember :

·       Clean Nostrils And Mouth Which Helps The Calf Breathe Better And Help Prevent Future Breathing Problems.

·       Allow The Mother To Lick The Calf Clean Which Promotes Circulation Within The Calf’s Body And Prepares The Calf To Stand Up And Walk.

·       Tie The Navel Cord With A Thread At A Distance Of Around 2 Inches From The Base And Cut The Remaining Cord With A Clean Instrument.

·       Dip The Navel (A Simple Smearing Will Not Serve The Purpose) In 7% Or Higher Tincture Of Iodine Solution And Repeat After 12 Hours. (Do Not Use Teat Dip Or Weaker Iodine Solutions). A Poorly Maintained Navel Is The Gateway To Serious Infections.

·       A New Born Calf Should Be Given 2 Litres Of Colostrum Within The First 2 Hours Of Birth And 1-2 Liters (Based On Size) Within 12 Hours Of Birth.

·       Many Calves Do Not Nurse Adequate Amounts Of Colostrum From Their Dams Within The First Few Hours Of Life, And Thus They May Not Receive Adequate Immunity.

·       Feeding Colostrum After 24 Hours Of Birth May Not Help The Calf To Ward Off Infections.

·       A Calf Must Receive Adequate Colostrum To Protect It From Diseases For The First Three Months Of Its Life. Colostrum Is The Calf’s “Passport To Life”.

·       Hand-Feeding New-Born Calves Is Therefore Recommended So That The Farmer Is Sure About The Amount Of Colostrum An Individual Calf Receives.

·       De-Worming Should Be Done Within 10-14 Days Of Age Subsequently On A Monthly Basis Up To The 6th Month.

·       When The Animal Is 3 Months Old, Contact The Veterinarian For Vaccination.

·       Provide Calf Starter From 2-8 Weeks For Better Growth And Early Maturity.

B. Calf Diarrhoea

·       Diarrhoea In Calves Can Occur Due To Various Reasons.

·       Calves With Diarrhoea Lose Considerable Amounts Of Water And Electrolytes.

·       Diarrhoea And Rapid Loss Of Fluid And Ions Can Cause The Calf To Die Very Quickly

Management Of Calf Diarrhoea

·       Replace The Lost Water And Electrolytes At The Earliest – Feed 2-4 Liters Of Electrolyte Solution Every Day.

·       The Electrolyte Solution Provided Should Be Over And Above The Normal Feeding.

·       Consult A Veterinarian At The Earliest To Determine The Cause Of Diarrhoea And To Provide Appropriate Treatment.

Assessing Levels Of Dehydration

 

Dehydration Level (%)

Symptoms

Up To 5%

No Symptoms, Animal Is Normal.

5 – 6%

Diarrhoea, No Clinical Signs, Strong Suckling Reflex.

6 – 8%

Mild Depression, Skin Tenting* 2-6 Seconds, Still Suckling, Sunken Eyes, Weak.

8-10%

Depressed, Laying Down, Eyes Very Sunken, Dry Gums, Skin Tenting More Than 6 Seconds.

10-14%

Cannot Stand, Cool Extremities, Skin Remains Tented, Comatose.

Over 14%

Leads To Death

·       The Skin Above The Eye And Around The Chest And Neck Should Rapidly Snap Back And Return To Normal When Released. If The Skin Remains Raised It Is Considered ‘Tented’. The Time Taken To Return To Normalcy Indicates The Level Of Dehydration.

·       Calves Showing Symptoms Of Above 8% Dehydration Require Immediate Intravenous Fluid Therapy, Contact A Veterinarian Immediately.

Prevention Of Calf Diarrhoea

·       Ensure That Adequate Quantities Of Colostrum Has Been Fed To The Calf Within 6 Hours Of Birth To Avoid Failure Of Transfer Of Immunity.

·       Ensure That The Calf Is Maintained In A Hygienic And Dry Environment.

·       Ensure Udder Cleanliness Before Allowing The Calf To Suckle.