​Treating Premature Weak Calves in Cow Production

Treating Premature Weak Calves in Cow Production

In cow production, there are many cases of premature birth. Calves born prematurely are weak in physique and vitality, requiring careful nursing to prevent death. So, how do we treat premature weak calves? Let's find out together.

Identify the type of premature weak calves:

1. Pathological: Caused by various pathogens invading the mother, resulting in fetal death, premature birth, deformities, miscarriages, and some weak or dead calves caused by inbreeding or genetic factors. Clinically, there are also cases of cerebral palsy with unexplained functional disorders, coma, limb spasms, and other neurological symptoms, which are mostly incurable.

2. Nutritional: Caused by vitamin deficiencies, inadequate mineral elements, nutritional imbalances, and unreasonable feeding, leading to reduced reproductive capacity, weak vitality, fetal growth retardation, and the occurrence of weak premature calves. This type accounts for a large proportion, and despite efforts in raising them, many die due to improper treatment.

3. Mechanical: Poor feeding management leading to premature birth in late pregnancy, such as frequent pregnancy checks, whip scares while grazing, or feeding frost-damaged pasture during pregnancy.

Observe the pathological manifestations of premature weak calves:

• Inability to stand: Newborn calves can barely stand even with human assistance, often falling frequently due to lack of physical strength, or not being able to stand on their own after two hours of leaving the mother. They may exhibit drooping heads, dull eyes, lethargy, and curl up into a ball. Fetal cerebral palsy, characterized by poor central nervous system regulation, can also cause loss of posture tone, lying paralyzed on the ground, muscle tremors, and limb movements.

• Sluggish response: Calves exhibit blind collisions and unstable limbs when standing. They cannot find the teat even when the mother is nearby and cannot suckle properly. In severe cases, the sucking reflex disappears or weakens, they lie down and cannot get up, their pupils are uneven, their eyes are half-open, and they do not avoid finger stimulation or are insensitive to light.

• Functional disorders: Due to continuous physical exhaustion, there are obvious signs of systemic dysfunction during a full-body examination, such as jaundice or pallor, irregular heartbeat, weak heartbeats, incomplete lung expansion, flaring nostrils, uneven skin temperature, cold mouth and tongue, cold limbs, and a temperature often below 37°C or immeasurable.

Treatment measures for premature weak calves:

1. Early determination of the treatment value of premature weak calves: Based on clinical pathological manifestations, determine the type of occurrence. If it belongs to the category of poor central nervous system regulation, or if it is a weak calf born due to inbreeding, or if it is a premature calf born due to cow disease, with a clinical incidence rate of about 2-4%, treatment can be abandoned as they are considered to have no treatment value. However, if it is due to nutritional imbalance in pregnant cows, or an unbalanced diet leading to fetal growth retardation, as long as the fetal body heartbeat rhythm is normal and basically mature, there is hope for treatment.

2. Principles and main measures of treatment:

1. Place weak or premature calves in a warm environment. Maintaining body temperature and covering them with straw or blankets is one of the important measures. When weak calves are separated from the mother, sudden changes in temperature, environment, and oxygen supply can greatly reduce body temperature. This not only fails to stimulate the activation of the body's vitality but also inhibits the energy release of the central heating center, worsening the condition. After taking thermal insulation measures, metabolism and circulation in the body improve, providing a turning point for the improvement of vitality. In addition, regular gentle massages and turning of the body can improve peripheral blood circulation, which can also be beneficial.

2. Insufficient energy and functional failure are fatal factors for weak calves. While maintaining the vitality of the body, timely supplementation of energy preparations is an important means of rescue. Combining several commonly used injectables into an energy formula and injecting them into the calf has achieved good therapeutic effects. The drug composition is as follows: 25% glucose 40.0ml, compound sodium chloride 100.0ml, adenosine triphosphate disodium 400mg, coenzyme A for injection 100u, once intravenous infusion (the rate must be controlled at 60-70 drops/minute, slowly increasing the energy mixture while maintaining cardiac function). In the early stages of rescue, inject once every 12 hours. When the body condition improves, inject once every 24 hours, which plays an important supportive role in consolidating and improving the vitality of the body.

3. Early feeding of weak calves with warm colostrum is the material basis for the body to obtain life–immunoglobulin. Some premature weak calves have a very weak sucking reflex. As long as warm colostrum is frequently applied to the mouth on the basis of comprehensive treatment, and with increased inducement, most weak calves can establish breastfeeding ability and sucking reflex.

Above is the introduction on how to treat premature weak calves. In cow production, weak newborn calves with weak vitality and easily dying premature fetuses are often found. Farmers should pay attention to nursing, supplement nutrition to calves, help calves suckle, and increase survival rate.

What Causes Cows to Calve Early?

Cows, like all mammals, have a natural gestation period that typically ranges from 275 to 290 days, depending on the breed. However, there are several factors that can cause cows to calf early, which is defined as calving before the full gestation period is completed. Understanding these factors can help farmers take preventive measures to ensure the health and well-being of their herd.

1. Nutritional Factors:

A lack of proper nutrition can lead to early calving. Cows that are underfed or not receiving adequate nutrients may experience premature labor as their bodies struggle to support the growing fetus.

2. Stress:

Cows are sensitive animals, and stress can have a significant impact on their reproductive health. Stressors such as transportation, changes in environment, and overcrowding can all contribute to early calving.

3. Genetics:

Some cows may have genetic predispositions to early calving. This can be due to factors such as breed characteristics or inherited health conditions that affect reproductive function.

4. Health Issues:

Health problems, such as infections or diseases, can cause cows to calf early. Infections of the uterus or other reproductive organs can lead to premature labor.

5. Environmental Factors:

Extreme weather conditions, such as heat stress or severe cold, can also play a role in early calving. Cows that are exposed to extreme temperatures may go into labor prematurely in an attempt to protect their offspring from harsh conditions.

6. Hormonal Imbalance:

Hormonal imbalances can disrupt the normal reproductive cycle of cows, leading to early calving. Th
is can be caused by factors such as inadequate levels of progesterone, which is essential for maintaining pregnancy.

7. Twinning:

Cows carrying twins are more likely to calf early than cows carrying a single calf. The increased weight and pressure from carrying two calves can trigger premature labor.

In conclusion, several factors can contribute to cows calving early, including nutritional deficiencies, stress, genetics, health issues, environmental factors, hormonal imbalances, and twinning. Farmers should be aware of these factors and take preventive measures to minimize the risk of early calving in their herds. Proper nutrition, regular veterinary care, and a stress-free environment can all help ensure that cows carry their calves to full term.