Effective Management and Care of Calving Cows and Calves

The period around calving is one of the most critical windows in cattle and buffalo management. How a producer handles a cow in the final days before calving – and the hours immediately after – has a direct bearing on calf survival, growth performance, and the long-term productivity of the dam. Mistakes made during this phase are costly: increased calf mortality, weakened immunity, and postpartum complications in the cow can all stem from poor management. Getting the basics right, consistently and systematically, makes all the difference.

Preparing cows and buffaloes for calving 🔗

As parturition approaches, cows and buffaloes should be moved to individual calving pens. This separation is not just a logistical convenience – it directly protects the dam and calf from injury and infectious disease. Calving pens must be cleaned both before and after each delivery to prevent calf disease, and cows need enough space to move freely and position themselves comfortably for delivery. Overcrowding in shared pens is a leading driver of infection and injury at calving.

Adequate nutrition is critical during the last two months of gestation, because most fetal growth occurs during this period. Cows and heifers in poor body condition at calving time produce less colostrum, are slower to rebreed, and are less likely to raise a healthy calf. Nutritional programs should be adjusted to meet the increasing energy and protein demands of late pregnancy without causing excessive weight gain, which can complicate delivery.

Recognizing the signs of approaching calving 🔗

Producers should monitor animals closely for the clinical signs of imminent calving: relaxation of the pelvic ligaments, swelling of the vulva, udder engorgement, and restless behavior. First-calf heifers are the most likely animals in the herd to experience calving difficulty and deserve especially close observation. All calving areas should be free of sharp objects, and a squeeze chute with head catch should be accessible in case assisted delivery becomes necessary.

When monitoring calving progress, patience and restraint are key. Unnecessary interference can cause complications. Close monitoring of the calving pen is important to allow for timely intervention by trained personnel when needed, particularly for first-time calvers and cows not showing adequate progress. If manual pulling or a calf jack is required, it must be done carefully to avoid broken limbs in the calf or nerve and pelvic injury in the cow. Veterinary support should be sought whenever there is doubt.

Managing the down calver 🔗

A cow that goes down around calving – unable to rise after delivery – requires immediate attention. In approximately 46% of downer cow cases, the primary problem was a difficult calving, making good calving management essential. The most common underlying causes include calving-related nerve and muscle damage, milk fever (hypocalcaemia), mastitis, and metritis. Only 2% of dairy cows treated for milk fever within six hours became downer cows, but when treatment was delayed beyond 18 hours, nearly 50% were unable to rise. Speed of response is therefore critical.

Immediate nursing care for downer cows 🔗

Once a cow is down, the priority is to position her correctly and provide supportive care. Lateral recumbency must be corrected immediately to prevent regurgitation, and the cow should be rolled into sternal recumbency with support such as a straw bale under the shoulder if needed. Concrete surfaces worsen outcomes – soft bedding is essential. The cow should be assisted to stand every six hours where possible to minimize the onset of muscle and nerve damage, and turned onto the opposite side if she cannot rise, to restore blood flow to the compressed hind limb muscles. Clean, fresh water must be available at all times, and if the cow is lactating, she should be hand-milked at least every 12 hours to reduce mastitis risk. Never attempt to move a downer cow by dragging or lifting her by the head or neck, as this causes additional damage.

Immediate care of the newborn calf 🔗

The first hour of a calf’s life sets the foundation for everything that follows. As soon as the calf is born, the airway must be cleared of fluid and mucus. If the dam is not cleaning the calf, use clean towels to dry the calf – this is especially important in cold conditions where a wet calf loses body heat rapidly. The sex of the calf should be confirmed, and the animal should be tagged for identification as soon as practicable.

Navel disinfection 🔗

After the umbilical cord ruptures at birth, it becomes an open pathway for environmental bacteria to enter the bloodstream. Navel infections can lead to serious downstream complications including respiratory disease, joint ill, and hernia – all of which are costly to treat and harmful to calf development. The navel should be dipped immediately after birth, with a second application recommended within the first day of life. Dipping – not spraying – is the more effective method, as it ensures the disinfectant reaches the base of the cord.

A 7% tincture of iodine is the traditional disinfectant of choice. Chlorhexidine 2% is a well-supported alternative with the added advantage of remaining effective in the presence of organic matter. Whichever product is used, hygiene of the dip cup matters: a dirty container can actively spread infection. Disposable cups are a practical solution. The navel should be monitored for the first two weeks of life – it should be no larger than the producer’s thumb, and should not be painful, swollen, or discharging.

Colostrum feeding: the single most important step 🔗

Calves are born without circulating antibodies, because immunoglobulins (Ig) do not cross the bovine placenta. Colostrum provides antibodies, growth factors, immune cells, and higher concentrations of many nutrients compared to regular milk – making it the most powerful tool available for protecting the newborn calf against disease.

Timing, quantity, and quality 🔗

The window for antibody absorption is short and closes rapidly. There is a 33% decrease in IgG absorption within six hours of birth, and by 24 hours, the calf’s gut wall loses the ability to absorb these large protein molecules entirely. The recommendation is to feed 4 litres of high-quality colostrum within two hours of birth, with a follow-up feeding of 2 litres within the next 12 hours. High-quality colostrum contains immunoglobulins at 50 g/L IgG or above, which corresponds to a Brix refractometer reading above 22%. Quality can be assessed using a colostrometer or Brix refractometer – visual inspection alone is unreliable.

The recommended method for colostrum feeding is a clean bottle with a nipple, allowing the calf to nurse at its own pace. Calves should never be forced to drink from a bottle, as milk can enter the airways and cause aspiration pneumonia. If a calf is too weak or uncoordinated to suckle adequately, an esophageal tube feeder should be used – but only by trained personnel following a defined protocol. Colostrum should be fed close to the calf’s body temperature of approximately 39°C (102°F); cold colostrum is less palatable and diverts energy from growth to thermoregulation.

Excess colostrum of confirmed high quality should be frozen in clearly labelled 2-litre containers for use when a dam’s own colostrum is unavailable or inadequate. Colostrum should be thawed in a water bath no warmer than 49°C (120°F), then brought slowly to feeding temperature. Overheating destroys the immunoglobulins and defeats the purpose entirely.

Housing and feeding the growing calf 🔗

After initial colostrum feeding, the calf should be moved promptly from the maternity pen to a clean, designated calf housing area. Immediate removal from the maternity pen minimizes the calf’s exposure to pathogens and reduces the risk of navel infection, diarrhea, pneumonia, and septicemia. Individual housing is preferred in the early weeks to limit disease transmission between calves and to make individual monitoring easier.

Milk and milk replacer feeding schedules 🔗

Following colostrum feeding, calves transition to whole milk or milk replacer for the pre-weaning period. High-quality milk or milk replacer should be fed for at least six weeks, with feeding quantities based on birth weight, desired daily weight gain, calf health, and climatic conditions. The daily liquid feed allowance is typically set at 8-10% of body weight, split across a minimum of two feeds per day. Consistency in feeding time, temperature, and concentration is critical – even small variations in milk temperature or concentration can upset digestion and impair growth rates.

In cold weather, calves use more energy for thermoregulation and have less available for growth. For calves under three weeks of age, the lower thermoneutral zone is 20°C, meaning that below this temperature, calves require additional energy in their diet. Feeding frequency should be increased to three times daily in cold conditions, and calves should be well-bedded with legs fully covered when lying down.

Calf starter feed and water 🔗

Solid feed should be introduced by three days of age. Early introduction of calf starter – a high-quality grain-based feed with approximately 20-22% crude protein – stimulates rumen development through the production of volatile fatty acids, particularly butyrate. A good starter should be offered in small amounts at each feeding during the first days of life, with quantities gradually increased as the calf’s appetite grows. Stale or unpalatable starter depresses intake and slows rumen development, so fresh feed should be offered daily.

Fresh, clean water must be available from day one, separate from milk. Water in milk or milk replacer is not sufficient to meet the calf’s water requirement, and availability of fresh water is a key factor in promoting starter intake and rumen development. Weaning should be based on solid feed intake, not age alone: calves can be weaned when they are consistently consuming at least 1.4 kg (approximately 3 lb) of starter per day for three consecutive days.

Reducing morbidity and mortality in young calves 🔗

The two most common and preventable causes of calf death in the first weeks of life are enteric disease (scours) and respiratory infections. Both are heavily influenced by the quality of the calving environment, the timeliness of colostrum feeding, and the hygiene of calf housing. Navel infection rates of 1-14% are reported worldwide, and the associated downstream complications – joint infections, lung involvement, and poor growth – represent costs far exceeding the direct treatment expense. A clean calving pen, prompt navel care, timely colostrum, and individual calf housing are the four pillars of a low-mortality calf program.

Monitoring should be routine and systematic throughout the first weeks of life. Daily checks for signs of diarrhea, respiratory distress, lethargy, or abnormal navel swelling allow for early intervention, which is almost always more effective and less costly than treating a fully sick calf. The goal is to have fewer than 1% of calves on a farm develop navel infections – a target that is achievable with consistent, evidence-based management.

What do you think? If a farm is experiencing higher-than-expected calf mortality, which part of the calving and early calf care process would you prioritize reviewing first – and why? Given that the window for colostrum absorption closes within 24 hours of birth, how should farms without overnight staff structure their protocols to ensure every calf receives adequate colostrum in time?

References

1. https://www.dairyfarmers.ca/Media/Files/proaction/3c.Preventing_Down_Cattle-Jul1921-EN
2. https://extension.msstate.edu/publications/beef-cattle-calving-management
3. https://www.nadis.org.uk/disease-a-z/cattle/downer-cow/
4. https://www.veterinary-practice.com/article/the-low-down-on-down-cows
5. https://www.thecattlesite.com/diseaseinfo/246/the-downer-cow
6. https://llmfarmvets.co.uk/caring-for-a-downer-cow/
7. https://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/thelivestockproject/down-cow-care-on-an-organic-alternative-farm/
8. https://www.mcgill.ca/research/files/research/dc-504_newborn_calf_care.pdf
9. https://extension.psu.edu/complete-navel-care-its-not-just-about-navel-dip
10. https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/newborn-dairy-calf-care-management
11. https://swnydlfc.cce.cornell.edu/submission.php?id=1693&crumb=dairy%7C1
12. https://extension.psu.edu/colostrum-your-calfs-health-depends-on-it
13. https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/news/building-future-your-herd-best-practice-colostrum-management
14. https://www.extension.iastate.edu/dairyteam/files/documents/EDITED_FINAL_Newborn%20Calves%20&%20Colostrum%20management.pdf
15. https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/BAMN17_GuideFeeding_1.pdf
16. https://www.merckvetmanual.com/management-and-nutrition/nutrition-dairy-cattle/feeding-young-dairy-calves