Hypothermia or not?

[Alicecow]

Quick question for you all...

Cow calved at 1.30 am
Temperature in the calving shed is minus 1 degree. Light breeze outside. Minor snowfall around 1 am (didn't have much anyhow and that was melting).
Most gaps covered reasonably well. Plenty of straw down (I think) and mats under the straw on the cubicle level (shed is an old tie in cubicle type converted to a loosebox).
Calf has now sucked quite well but is still damp.
Bearing in mind the information on the Windchill thread, and the sad loss of the calf with hypothermia, is it better to leave well enough alone and hope for the best or to set up my small fan heater which may warm the place up a bit, or is that more likely to cause hypothermia by causing air movement rather than having colder air that is not moving?

Thanks in advance.

 

[wrenbird]

If calf is up on its feet and has had a bellyful of colostrum I would of thought it would be ok.

 

[yellowbelly]

Temperature in the calving shed is minus 1 degree. Light breeze outside. Minor snowfall around 1 am (didn't have much anyhow and that was melting).

Sounds positively tropical

Seriously though, if it's had plenty of colostrum and everything looks 'normal' it should be OK.

Newborns tend to look like they are shivering a bit but, IMHO, it's just natures way of warming themselves up.

 

[Alicecow]

Thanks! Just been to check him and made him get up, he was shivering, then he went and sucked again, stayed on the one quarter and tail wagging a bit so seems ok. Got a whole inch of snow here now
Just needs a name now

 

[AftonShepherd]

Merlot or Shiraz if he's a bit Chile?

 

[GrannyAching]

Sounds positively tropical

Seriously though, if it's had plenty of colostrum and everything looks 'normal' it should be OK.

Newborns tend to look like they are shivering a bit but, IMHO, it's just natures way of warming themselves up.

I think the shivering is some sort of trigger for or due to burning the stored fat.

 

[Alicecow]

Merlot or Shiraz if he's a bit Chile?

Yes, but what about the calf

 

[steveR]

Quick question for you all...

Cow calved at 1.30 am
Temperature in the calving shed is minus 1 degree. Light breeze outside. Minor snowfall around 1 am (didn't have much anyhow and that was melting).
Most gaps covered reasonably well. Plenty of straw down (I think) and mats under the straw on the cubicle level (shed is an old tie in cubicle type converted to a loosebox).
Calf has now sucked quite well but is still damp.
Bearing in mind the information on the Windchill thread, and the sad loss of the calf with hypothermia, is it better to leave well enough alone and hope for the best or to set up my small fan heater which may warm the place up a bit, or is that more likely to cause hypothermia by causing air movement rather than having colder air that is not moving?

Thanks in advance.

Seeing exactly the same here in the stock yard.

Hex cow popped a heifer last night around 9pm Got calf up at 11 and dried it with straw as still damp. Saw calf having a suck around Midnight. Still damp and shivery this morning but seen suckling mid morning. Still damp and shivery at 3pm before the Rugby. I'll move her indoors if not sharper after supper.

Could do with one of those lambing coats....

 

[GrannyAching]

Could do with one of those lambing coats....

You not got a feed bag/bin bag/old fleece?

 

[steveR]

No feed bags other than plastic these days [emoji6]Janice suggested an old coat too...

 

[GrannyAching]

No feed bags other than plastic these days [emoji6]Janice suggested an old coat too...

Lamb coats are plastic - are stopping the air movement and reducing heat loss through evaporation.

 

[waterbuffalofarmer]

if unhappy with him I would give him a big rubbing down with straw or such, help him to dry off quicker. Cant afford to risk anything during the winter, animals will still get cold even with belly of food.

 

[Alicecow]

Just checked him and he seems fine now
Water troughs are thawing out so will keep the various draught excluders in place for tonight then he should be ok. Is doing yellow poo now so all good

 

[Alicecow]

 

[Matt]

Get a few if these. Glad I got them after this last week's weather. Only ordered them.a fortnight ago hoping I'd never need them.
Even if you put some bales so they got something warm to put thier back against out of the wind it can make a big difference

 

[Alicecow]

Which brand are they?

 

[Matt]

Which brand are they?

Boviwear I think. I got them from fane valley. 17 quid ish I think.

 

[Matt]

https://www.fanevalleystores.com/search.php?s=Calf+coat&x=9&y=10

 

[Alicecow]

Thanks.

 

[Alicecow]

Just wondering now if a bit of a runny nose (clear, not cloudy) is ok/within normal variations for the little chap? He's a bit subdued at the moment as I tagged him today, but don't usually see runny noses. Hoping it's just fluid coming up from his lungs from birth, but had to have shed door shut up until this morning as it faces east & he would have frozen (have left it ajar now as was nice day - cool but calm - so he has more fresh air & can acclimatise to cooler temperatures)
Hopefully I'm just worrying too much!