Birth protocol

1 Calving PEN 2 Calving pen hygiene 3 Cleaning rear of cow

4 Birth of calf 5 Rubbing the calf dry 6 Navel disinfection

7 Individual pen/igloo 8 Colostrum within 1 hour 9 Rinsing of rear and vulva 10 Provision of energy drink
1 Calving PEN 5 Rubbing the calf dry Complications calf
• 
When designing the calving pen, think in terms of convenience for your- • Rub the calf vigorously with straw to dry it.
self and comfort and hygiene for the cow and calf. • This promotes the breathing process and blood circulation,
If a calf is not breathing properly:
• 
The standard for the number of calving pens is 3% of the total number of which helps the calf stand more quickly. Most calves are on
dairy cattle, for example 3 pens per 100 cows. their feet within 60 to 90 minutes after birth.
• The guideline for the pen size is 8 to 20 m2. • Rubbing them dry also stimulates initial evacuation of faeces
• Make sure the cow is easy to monitor. and urine, and helps prevent them cooling.
• The pen must be accessible with a tractor or loader. This allows
• Hold the calf up
by the rear legs.
for easy moving of a sick cow if necessary and for cleaning out 6 Navel disinfection
the calving pen. • Disinfect the navel with iodine tincture (in a 10% iodine solution).
• Avoid stress! The cow will calve more easily if she retains contact with the • 
Make sure your hands are clean and do not pour any iodine tincture into
rest of the group. If the calving pen is completely secluded, move the cow to the navel!
the calving pen a few days before calving,
so that she can get used to it. • Lay the calf flat
7 Individual pen/igloo
• House the calf in a well-cleaned and disinfected individual pen on its belly,
2 Calving pen hygiene or igloo containing clean straw. the head stretched
• Good ventilation and a fresh atmosphere are essential. • Mobile pens are easier to spray clean. and legs folded
• 
The calving pen must be dry, clean and disinfected, • 
Make sure you have plenty of individual pens versus the number on each side.
with a fresh layer of straw. of calves, so that the pens can stand empty for a while.
• Put on clean clothes and clean boots before entering the pen. This ensures optimum hygiene.
• Ensure fresh and clean drinking water and a good feed ration.

8 Colostrum within 1 hour • Use cool water on

3 Cleaning rear of cow • 
Within an hour after birth, feed the calf 4 litres of the calf’s head
• Calving always entails the risk of infection. Put hygiene first. controlled quality colostrum.
• Start by thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting the rear of the cow. to shock it.
• The calf is generally alert enough to drink from a teat bottle
• This prevents infection of the calf, but also discharge and infection of the shortly after birth. See the Sprayfo colostrum protocol for the first
uterus, as well as retention of the placenta. colostrum feeding.
• Be sure to also disinfect any equipment, for the same reason.

9 Rinsing of rear and vulva

4 Birth of calf
• Once the calf is born, check if it is breathing.
• If it is breathing properly, remove the calf from the cow immediately. This
minimises the risk of infection via manure (including Para TBC), especially if
the farm health status is not optimum.
• If you prefer to have the cow lick the calf dry, lay the calf in front of the cow,
preferably separated by a feed rack. Whatever the situation, avoid the risk of
the calf ingesting manure as much as possible.
• Rinse the cow’s rear end and vulva with cold water to reduce any swelling.
• Remove any mucus with
• Leave the cow to rest for 5 to 10 minutes and then have her stand up. This a clean, dry cloth.
brings the uterus back into position and frees any blocked nerves and blood Do not use your hands.
vessels.
• If the cow continues to strain, check if there will be a second calf
(and otherwise the cow can stand immediately).
The placenta must be expelled within 6 hours. If not, warn a vet.

10 Provision of energy drink

• After calving, it is important to supplement any fluids and minerals
lost by the cow. Therefore, feed her an energy drink, such as
Reviva of Farm-O-San, immediately after calving. This helps establish
a good energy balance and roughage intake by the cow.

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