Calving , Latest & Featured - Canadian Cattlemen

Dr. Claire Windeyer demonstrates ways to revive a distressed newborn calf in a video by the Beef Cattle Research Council.

Calf 911: Tips for resuscitating newborn calves

News Roundup from the January 2022 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

By Beef Cattle Research Council January 19, 2022

Most cows deliver their calves with no issues. But the day a calf is born is still the highest-risk day of its life, says Dr. Claire Windeyer, associate professor of production animal health at the University of Calgary’s faculty of veterinary medicine. Things can go sideways quickly after a difficult labour, so knowing what to […] Read more

A screen shot from a video demonstrating proper head position for the calf when tube feeding. The video was created by the Beef Cattle Research Council.

Beef Cattle, Calving, News Roundup

How to tube feed a newborn calf

By Beef Cattle Research Council January 13, 2022

While the goal is to always have vigorous calves that nurse right away, and maternal cows that bring them up right, illness and suckling issues can be a reality. Esophageal feeding, or “tube feeding,” is essential when a calf requires colostrum, or if you are treating dehydration in a sick calf. Knowing how to properly […] Read more

Senior veterinary students Willow Burnes (left) and Dani England assess a newborn calf at the LFCE's Forage Cow-Calf Research and Teaching Unit. Photo: Christina Weese.

Beef Cattle, Calving

On-site calving rotations mark a first for USask

By Nykole King/Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence May 7, 2021

This article originally appeared on the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence’s website. It’s republished here with permission. The university’s Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence (LFCE), located south of Clavet, Sask., has 400 cows and heifers calving in April and May. That flurry of calving activity gave two groups of fourth-year Doctor of Veterinary […] Read more

Calving, Features, Livestock

The ins and outs of stomach tubing calves

New calves in distress or having trouble nursing can still get their first colostrum by tubing, giving them a better shot at good health

By Bruce Derksen January 11, 2021

Finding a newborn calf too weak to stand or in distress is all too common. Without intervention, calves in this condition will likely die. It doesn’t have to end that way according to Dr. Melissa Wallace of Livestock Veterinary Services, Picture Butte, Alta. Vulnerable calves can receive their first colostrum by tubing, essentially jump-starting health […] Read more

By restraining the cow, the substitute calf can nurse without being kicked, stimulating milk let-down.

Calving, Cow-Calf, Livestock

Tips for grafting a calf

There’s more than one way to encourage cow-calf bonding, but hormones and smell are key

By Heather Smith Thomas March 3, 2020

When a cow loses a newborn calf, many stockmen will graft an orphan or twin onto the cow. Sometimes it’s prudent to graft an old cow’s calf onto a younger cow that has lost a calf, so that the old cow can be fattened and sold. But what’s the best way to get a cow […] Read more

Calving

Preparing for spring calving

By NDSU Agriculture Communication February 19, 2020

Planning and preparing for the calving season can help not only minimize calf losses but also improve calves’ performance, according to North Dakota State University Extension livestock specialists. The nutrition status of the calving herd is one issue to consider in preparing for the upcoming spring calving season. “Although this should be an earlier concern, […] Read more

Temperature, wind chill and time spent in cold conditions all contribute to frostbite.

Calving, Cow-Calf, Features

Dealing with frostbite in calves

Animal Health: Warm air is usually better than warm water for treating a hypothermic calf

By Heather Smith Thomas February 11, 2019

Calves born in cold weather may suffer adverse effects, including frostbite, especially if they are unable to get up and nurse before they chill. Dr. Andy Acton of Deep South Animal Clinic at Ogema, Sask., says there are two problems when dealing with cold weather. “One is hypothermia, and the other is frostbite, and they […] Read more

Calving, Features

Necrotic laryngitis or calf diphtheria (barker calves)

Veterinarians use various treatments depending on what they've found is most effective

By Roy Lewis Dvm March 5, 2015

I am sure most producers over the years have had calves develop a throat infection on a sporadic basis. These are the calves which have an extremely loud, inspiratory and expiratory sound which can be heard across the pen. They generally extended their neck to breathe and are in various forms of respiratory distress. The […] Read more

Calving, Features

Five steps to a successful calving season

Preparations in advance makes calving season both easier on you and your herd

By Sean Mcgrath February 26, 2015

Calving season is an exciting time of year in most operations. It is exciting to see new calves hitting the ground, but it can also be exciting in more of a pending emergency sort of way. Most herds that have successful, low-drama calving seasons have several things in common, regardless of their calving season, most […] Read more

Calving, Cow-Calf

Saskatchewan’s 21-Day Calving Challenge

… a calving record book with a twist

By Debbie Furber February 18, 2015

There are three $1,000 vouchers for mineral supplement up for grabs in the Saskatchewan 21-Day Calving Challenge, but everyone is a winner year after year just by paying attention to the reproductive success of their cow herds. The simplest and most effective way to do that is to track calving distribution by counting the number […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures climb higher to end week

Draft ‘MAHA’ commission report avoids pesticide crackdown feared by farm groups

U.S. grains: Corn, soybeans rise on short-covering ahead of weekend, crop tour

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