Management
Helping the Newborn Calf Breathe
By Glenn Selk, Oklahoma State University
Despite our best efforts at
bull selection and heifer
development, cows or heifers
occasionally need assistance at
calving time. Every baby calf has
a certain degree of respiratory
acidosis. Acidosis is the result
of the deprivation of oxygen
and the accumulation of carbon
dioxide that results from the
passage of the calf through the
birth canal. The excess of carbon
dioxide results in a build-up
of lactic acid (therefore the
acidosis.) In order to correct the
lack of oxygen and the excess
of carbon dioxide and its by-
products, the healthy calf will
pant vigorously shortly after
birth. Some calves, however,
may be sluggish and slow to
begin this corrective process.
It is imperative that the
newborn calf begins to breathe
as soon as possible. To stimulate
the initiation of the respiratory
process, a few ideas may
help. First, manually clear the
mouth and nasal passages of
fluids and mucus. Traditionally,
compromised calves were held
up by their hind legs to allow
fluid to drain from the airways,
but now many veterinarians
and animal scientists don’t
recommend this. Most of the
fluid that drains from an upside-
down calf is stomach fluid,
important to health. Holding
the calf by its hind legs also puts
pressure on the diaphragm from
abdominal organs, interfering
with normal breathing.
It’s better to use a suction
bulb to clear the airways.
Hanging the calf over a fence
also is not a recommended
method for a sluggish
newborn. The weight of the
calf on the fence restricts the
movement of the diaphragm
muscle. The fence impairs
the diaphragm’s ability to
contract and move. This
diaphragm activity is necessary
to expand the lungs to draw
in air and needed oxygen.
A better method is to briskly
tickle the inside of the nostrils
of the calf with a straw. This
will usually cause the calf to
have a reflex action such as a
“snort” or cough. The reflex
cough or “snort” expands
the lungs and allows air to
enter. Expect the calf to pant
rapidly for a few minutes after
breathing is initiated. Panting
is the natural response that
increases oxygen intake and
carbon dioxide release and will
allow the calf to reach normal
blood gas concentrations. I
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