Early Calf Life Survival — BCRC Webinar Recap

The first 24 hours of a beef calf’s life are the most vulnerable. During the Beef Cattle Research Council’s webinar, Early Calf Life Survival, Dr. Roger Richard of Shoal Lake Veterinary Clinic, Dr. Claire Windeyer from University of Calgary Veterinary Medicine and Heidi Bennett with W.A. Ranches discussed navigating calving and the critical early life stages of beef calves to give them their best start.

The discussion provided practical, science-based tips for improving calf survivability, starting with cow health before calving and managing birth through the first few weeks of a calf’s life. The panel emphasized how intentional, proactive management can minimize losses and boost productivity in beef herds.

Key pre-calving preparation steps include:

• Pre-breeding vaccination of cows and heifers (e.g., IBR, BVD, BRSV, scours) 
• Monitoring body condition scores and nutrition (especially at pregnancy checks) 
• Establishing calving/processing/treatment protocols 
• Gathering necessary supplies before calving starts including gloves, chains, disinfectant, oxytocin and a calf puller 

Dr. Richard also walked through the three stages of calving and when producers should intervene, suggesting that if no progress is observed within one hour of the water bag showing in cows, or 1.5 hours in heifers, it’s time to investigate and potentially assist.

Calving Assistance and Resuscitation 

When assistance is needed, Dr. Richard offered detailed descriptions for checking calf position and viability, placing calving chains correctly and assisting delivery without causing harm to the calf or cow.

Birth is the biggest transition a calf will ever experience, and it can be traumatic. Dr. Windeyer offered three key steps to get a calf going once it hits the ground: get it breathing, get it up, and get it fed. These first moments are critical for survival, especially after a difficult delivery.  

What do I do if a calf isn’t breathing on its own? In these cases, resuscitation is needed. Dr. Windeyer shared techniques to give struggling calves their best chance at pulling through: 

• Avoid hanging calves upside down 
• Use the recovery position — chest upright, head between legs 
• Stimulate breathing with vigorous toweling, nose pokes or an assisted breathing device 

For more information check out the BCRC’s calf resuscitation article.  

Neonatal Calf Care

Colostrum plays a vital role in calf immunity:

• Colostrum is essential for building a calf’s immune system, and it all starts with the dam. Quality depends on proper vaccination and good nutrition before calving.
• Calves that are weak, born as twins, had a difficult birth or required assistance at delivery are at higher risk and may require intervention to ensure they receive enough colostrum.
• Timing is critical. Calves can absorb the antibodies from colostrum up to the first 12 hours of their lives. However, the sooner the better. Calves receiving colostrum in the first 1 to 2 hours following birth is ideal for maximum antibody absorption.
• If nursing has not or cannot occur in a timely manner, provide approximately 1.5 litres of colostrum containing more than 100 grams of IgG to support immunity.
• Start with encouraging the calf to suck from the cow, then attempt bottle feeding (colostrum milked from the cow, cow on farm or from a powdered source), but if they aren’t suckling on their own, tube feeding is better than waiting too long.

Immediately after birth, producers also should:

• Provide pain relief to calf and cow.
• Vaccinate for respiratory disease.
• Consider treatments for coccidiosis and vitamin/mineral supplementation.

Ranch-Level Practices for Long-Term Success

Heidi Bennet of W.A. Ranches discussed what has worked well on this large-scale, research-based operation. She emphasized the need to care for the dam by addressing issues quickly, having empathy and spending time observing the herd.

For W.A. Ranches, shifting the calving season later into the spring has helped reduce the incidence of cold stress in calves. Further, calving out on pasture resulted in better cow-calf bonding and helped lower disease risk by avoiding overcrowded pens and reducing exposure to pathogens. The ranch has also found success managing calving fields by using the Sandhills calving system to reduce disease transfer, by ensuring calving is occurring on clean ground.

Key Takeaways for Improving Early Calf Survival

• Preparation and prevention are more effective than reaction.
• Know when and how to intervene during calving.
• Prioritize colostrum delivery and pain management.
• Tailor calving systems to fit your operation’s size, facilities and weather.
• Work with your vet to develop and update herd health protocols.

LEARN MORE:

• Reproduction & Calving (BCRC topic page)
• Calving & Calf Management (BCRC topic page)
• Ready, Set, Calve: How to Prepare Yourself and Your Beef Operation for the Upcoming Calving Season (BCRC post)
• Calf 911 – How To Evaluate Newborn Calves Using the Calf VIGOR Scoring System (BCRC post)
• Calm, Cool and Collected – Prepare for a Smooth and Healthy Calving Season (BCRC post)
• Calf 911 – When and How to Assist with a Difficult Birth (BCRC post)
• The Sandhills Strategy – Moving Pregnant Cows to Fresh Ground and Leaving Pairs Behind Can Limit Calf Sickness (BCRC post)
• Calf 911 Checklists – Easy Access to Calving Management Tips (BCRC resources)

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