How to Warm a Calf –

PCC Update
January 13, 2010

by Kit Pharo
Email: Kit@PharoCattle.com
http://www.pharocattle.com/


Susan Francis, a PCC customer from Western Kansas, shared the following article with the PCC Discussion Group. She said, “Gives me the chills, just thinking about it. Does anyone care to go back to doing things this way? This article appeared in the Cattle Network newsletter.”
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How To Warm A Calf
01/07/2010 02:54PM

A University of Alberta study where newborn calves were chilled to a body temperature of 86°F and then warmed to normal body temperature with either: 1) a combination of a heat lamp, blanket and housing at 72°F; or 2) immersing the calf in 100°F water in a bathtub, greatly favored the tub method. The calves warmed up twice as fast in the warm water and expended half as much metabolic energy as those under the heat lamp.

Researchers remind producers not to forget to hold the calf’s head out of the water as it is warming up and remember to dry it off before returning it to its’ dam. Also, they suggest saving some of the afterbirth or fluids to rub on the calf to help the dam claim it after being warmed up (JAS 1988). For more information, contact Kansas State University Extension Veterinarian Larry Hollis.
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Folks, calving season should be one of the most enjoyable times of the year. Why would anyone want to calve out of sync with nature? The quickest and easiest way for many producers to increase their net income by $80 to $100 per cow per year is to calve in sync with nature. Why is this such a tough sell?
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