Addressing weak calf syndrome in your herd

Mhlupheki Dube

THIS week we look at the issue of having a weak calf born by your cow. It goes without elaboration that there is no happier time for a livestock farmer than finding your cow with a new calf on foot. However, this can easily turn to a nightmarish session if things don’t go according to expectation.

One such occasion is the birth of a weak calf. This is a calf which can hardly stand on its own and by extension it is not able to nurse from the dam. Calves with the syndrome are typically born with no noticeable problems, but they cannot get up. They are so weak that they may fall over on their side and usually come around slowly. There are two main causes of weak calves and these are nutrition-related causes or disease related. Diseases such as bovine viral diarrhoea in the herd are sometimes associated with weak calves. However, in the majority of cases, weak calf syndrome is a result of nutritional deficiencies on the dam during its gestation period. Vitamin A and selenium deficiencies have been associated with weak calves being born.

Selenium deficiency causes white muscle disease. If cows are selenium deficient during gestation, calves may be born with weak muscles, which includes a weak heart, which may lead to the death of the calf soon after birth.

It is important to state upfront that a good number of these weak calves do not survive if no immediate intervention is provided by the farmer.

Before we dwell on the farmer intervention, it is important to point out that one of the main reasons for weak calves is that the dam consumed a diet deficient in energy and protein, although lack of protein in late gestation is usually the main culprit.

It is, therefore, critical to ensure that your incalf heifers or cows are fed diets balanced for energy and protein.

The easiest way to monitor this, is by observing the body condition scores of your incalf animals. They should maintain a score above 3,5 and preferably calve down at a score of 4. Cows consuming a low protein diet during the last 60 days before calving have been shown to have a greater incidence of weak calves at birth. Additionally, a low energy diet during the last 60 days prior to calving can also increase the occurrence of weak calves.

Therefore, providing a good quality diet in the last 60 days prior to calving is crucial to minimising weak calf syndrome in your herd. Now I have alluded to the importance of the farmer intervention to ensure the survival of the weak calf. This is because if the calf cannot stand on its own it means it cannot nurse from the dam and it will fail to suckle the critical colostrum within the expected period. The calf will be hungry and hence become even weaker and if the window of colostrum intake passes it means this calf will be susceptible to every infection because of a weaker immune system. Calves should nurse within an hour after birth to absorb the needed maternal antibodies from colostrum.

Again a calf which is unable to stand and nurse may quickly be abandoned by the dam because of nursing establish the bond between the cow and the calf, without which the cow may simply walk away. As a farmer you will therefore need to timeously intervene to establish that bond between the dam and its calf. You many need to hold the cow still and lift the calf and milk by hand direct into its mouth. As the cow teats soften up you may try to let the calf suckle on its own so as to establish the suckling reflex. You may need to provide colostrum replacer if your calf did not get the colostrum from the dam.

It is thus important for livestock farmers to observe cows due to calve down. You will need to observe them before, during and immediately after calving down so that you can address any challenge that may arise during this critical period. I know ranchers like to say that a good cow is the one that requires less of your attention but it is not worthy to lose your calf which you have waited nine months for, on reasons which you could easily be addressed.

Uyabonga umntakaMaKhumalo. Feedback [email protected]/cell0772851275.