The Best Time for Newborn Calves to Nurse and How to Handle Choking and Coughing

AbstractGenerally, the best nursing period for newborn calves is from right after birth to around 2.5 months after birth. If a newborn calf chokes while nursing, the coughing will not last very long; if it continues like this for 2-3 days, an anti-inflammatory injection is needed to prevent lung inflammation.

I. The Best Time for Newborn Calves to Nurse

1. Generally, the best nursing period for newborn calves is from right after birth to around 2.5 months after birth. During the first 4-5 days after the calf is born, there is no need to feed solid feed; usually nursing alone is sufficient throughout this period. After 5 days, a small amount of solid feed can gradually be given to the calf.

2. Afterwards, slowly increase the amount of solid feed provided. After 2.5 months, if the calf can eat more than 0.7kg of solid feed for 3 consecutive days, it can be weaned.

II. What to Do If a Newborn Calf Chokes While Nursing and Coughs

If a newborn calf chokes while nursing, the coughing will not last very long. If it continues like this for 2-3 days, an anti-inflammatory injection is needed to prevent lung inflammation.

III. Points to Note in Newborn Calf Care

1. Prevent the calf from getting cold

After the calf is born, the amniotic fluid in its mouth and nose needs to be cleared promptly to prevent the amniotic fluid from entering the lungs and causing foreign body pneumonia. The amniotic fluid on its body can be licked dry by the cow; if the cow does not lick it or the weather is cold, it can be wiped dry manually with a towel or wheat bran. Within 8-12 hours after the calf is born, good insulation work needs to be done to keep the temperature above 20°C, otherwise diarrhea, illness, reduced vitality and other problems are likely to occur.

2. Newborn calves have a weak constitution

The mid-to-late stages of the cow's pregnancy are the rapid development stage of the calf. During this period, sufficient nutrition must be supplemented to promote the calf's development and achieve normal birth weight and vitality. Generally, the delivery time can be estimated based on the breeding time, and the calving assistance work for the cow should be done well to prevent prolonged labor or difficult birth. When the umbilical cord connecting the calf and the cow ruptures, if the calf is not delivered for a long time, conditions such as oxygen deprivation, suffocation or poor vitality may occur, forming a weak calf.

3. Let it drink enough colostrum as early as possible

After the calf is born, it needs to drink enough colostrum as soon as possible. When the calf cannot drink colostrum on its own, manual assistance is needed. For some calves that do not know how to nurse, the milk can generally be squeezed onto a finger and then placed into the calf's mouth for it to suck, gradually forming a conditioned reflex to nurse normally.

4. Prevent the calf from eating dirty matter

If a newborn calf develops diarrhea, it is generally related to the amount of milk consumed, temperature, and ingestion of pathogenic microorganisms, which can easily cause indigestion-related diarrhea and viral diarrhea. Therefore, the calf must be prevented from eating dirty matter. Generally, before the cow is about to give birth, the hindquarters and udder should be disinfected to prevent the calf from ingesting pathogenic microorganisms at birth. Generally, doing a good job of environmental hygiene and disinfection helps reduce pathogenic microorganisms in the environment.

5. Cut the umbilical cord scientifically

Cut the umbilical cord 5-10 minutes after the calf is born, which helps reduce the loss of umbilical cord blood. Before cutting the umbilical cord, the umbilical cord blood needs to be squeezed back, then cut at 3-5cm, and then iodine solution should be used to disinfect the umbilical cord and the surrounding area, generally for at least 3-5 days. The umbilical cord does not need to be ligated; the wound can be left open to dry and fall off naturally.

6. Prevent trampling or crushing to death

Generally, cows with better mothering ability should be selected for breeding, and then good health care work for the cow before and after calving should be done. At the same time, temperature control in the calving room should be strengthened, with 1 calving room or 1 pen per cow, to prevent calving cows from being placed in large groups for rearing, which helps reduce startling of the cattle. At the same time, the keeper should strengthen pen inspections, ensuring that the calving room is never left unattended 24 hours a day.