Having lived on the Minnesota/South Dakota border for a number of years, I’m of the opinion that Missouri winters are not bad at all. However, Missouri is certainly the champ at making mud.

Mud, wind, cold stress and precipitation can make for environmental conditions that make it nearly impossible to adequately care for a beef herd. Despite the best efforts, sometimes conditions are such that producers are unable to provide adequate nutrition to the cows. Often this will result in cows calving in bad weather, cows calving in poor physical condition and weak calf syndrome.

In weak calf syndrome, newborns appear weak (we did get pretty creative with the name, no?). They are unable or slow to stand and nurse. They may have had what appeared to be a normal birth. They frequently die within 3 days. They may or may not have scours or pneumonia. Usually not all calves are affected.

There is discussion about what causes the syndrome. No single cause has been identified. However, it seems that BVD is a risk factor. Likewise, cows consuming less than 2 pounds a day of protein for the last 2 months they are pregnant are more likely to have weak calves. Calves from cows losing weight in late pregnancy have increased time from birth to standing. Energy and protein deficiency are associated with increased incidence of weak calf syndrome.

At the onset of calving season, it is helpful to consider a few things to reduce the likelihood of weak calf syndrome.

Minimize stress on the cows

Control parasites, provide adequate feed, segregate animals needing additional care e.g. first-calf animals.

Feed the cows at calving

This is not the time to just “get by“ with the cow herd. Cubes are the minimum. Cattle Charge works well if it is convenient to get. TrendSetter Developer Ration and TrendSetter SLR work. And here's one of the best times we get to use producer corn, either with MFA supplements or TrendSetter SLR. Commodities with MFA Cattle Mixer supplements can also be a fit.

Use calf hot boxes to warm up and dry calves

Even in temperature neutral conditions, calves often have a drop in body temperature between birth and 8 hours of age; they expend heat to dry off. Drying the newborn calf immediately after birth removes an important stress off the calf. This will save energy for standing and nursing. Drying off calves born to cows that had received protein-deficient diets may be particularly valuable, as these calves may have a decreased ability to produce body heat.

Use colostrum

The sooner, the better, preferably within 2 hours. Calves not nursing by 4 hours need to be assisted or tube fed. Colostrum is an energy and protein source in addition to providing antibodies. Colostrum supplements are not colostrum replacements. If no colostrum is available or if the amount of colostrum recovered from a cow is small, the supplements are valuable. If the supplements are used as a colostrum replacement, they usually are fed at higher rates and are a second choice to colostrum.