24 April 2025

5 minute read

By: Four Star Veterinary Service

North America

Spring has been stubborn this year. Much of the Midwest is still experiencing cool, wet weather with temperatures dipping below freezing at night. For many producers, dairy calving season is every day, so it’s important to stay vigilant with newborn dairy calves amid our fluctuating weather.

Dr. Erika Nagorske, DVM with Four Star Veterinary Service in Chickasaw, Ohio, recently shared her insights on cold weather calving strategies to protect the most vulnerable members of the herd.

“Calves’ thermal neutral zone—the range where they don’t need to burn energy to stay warm—is about 50° F,” Dr. Nagorske explained. “For every 10 degrees below that, a calf needs 10% more calories to stay efficient and not burn fat and energy to stay warm.”

Caloric strategies to combat cold

When temperatures plunge, a calf’s energy reserves can deplete quickly if nutrition doesn’t keep up. To counteract this, Dr. Nagorske recommends increasing feed frequency or volume. Feeding three times per day instead of two or adding fat supplements to milk replacer can provide the necessary caloric bump.

“Supplemental fat or just extra milk meals through those first couple weeks of life can be beneficial,” she said. “Those extra calories help, and then calves can continue to grow or, if they get sick, they have the calorie reserve for their immune system to continue to function and fight off disease.”

However, she cautions that changes in feeding protocols should be done carefully to avoid digestive issues.

“You do have to be careful – changing the milk program can cause some digestive upset,” she said. “Work with your veterinarian or nutritionist to make sure we’re not going to upset their bellies by changing too much too quickly.”

Protecting against the environment

Nutrition is just one piece of the cold-weather puzzle. Calves also need physical protection from the elements. Proper bedding is one of the most cost-effective tools producers can implement.

“Straw would be the best bedding for insulation in winter months,” Dr. Nagorske advised. “You want to make sure that as the calf lays in the straw you can’t see their legs or feet. They’re able to really nestle down in it, and it’s called a nesting score.”

In addition to bedding, calf jackets are another vital tool in the winter toolbox.

“It’s a way to protect the calf and keep their body heat in so they don’t have to burn energy to stay warm and can use that milk meal to grow or have a stronger immune system instead of just to stay warm and survive,” she said.

Protecting calves from wind is equally important. Dr. Nagorske recommends housing calves in draft-free environments and using warming boxes—heated enclosures that dry and warm newborns quickly.

“You don’t want to put a wet calf in a calf jacket,” she noted. “There are warming boxes that are pretty common—basically an enclosed box that has warm air running through it, kind of like a little blow dryer system to get newborn calves nice and dry.”

Calving pen considerations

In the Upper Midwest, calving typically takes place in pens or barns. Keeping these areas clean and well-bedded ensures newborns are delivered into safe, dry environments. But flexibility is also key during winter storms.

“Maybe you bring cows into a different facility than you usually do when it’s going to be really cold,” said Dr. Nagorske. “If it’s -20°F out, we don’t want to be out there all night—and neither will a baby calf.”

Immediate care right after birth is essential. Calves should be towel-dried, their navels dipped in iodine, and moved into warm, draft-free spaces.

Colostrum in the first six hours

Perhaps the most important component of newborn care is ensuring they receive colostrum—rich in immunoglobulins—within the first six hours of life. Without it, calves remain immunologically vulnerable.

“Calves are born with pretty much no immune system memory,” Dr. Nagorske emphasized. “They need to get colostrum within six hours, and after that the ability to absorb it rapidly declines to pretty much zero at 24 hours, so timing is critical.”

For dairy producers, colostrum is often harvested manually, as cows transition into milk production. The industry standard is four quarts, which typically provide at least 200 grams of immunoglobulins. However, producers must plan ahead.

“In the fall and winter, because of the daylight changes, cows don’t produce as much colostrum volume-wise,” said Dr. Nagorske. “So, it’s important if you get extra from another cow to freeze it and save it or have colostrum replacer on-hand in case you don’t have enough for the next calf.”

Avoid vaccination stress during cold snaps

Cold weather brings additional management concerns when it comes to vaccination timing. Vaccines, while crucial, place a demand on a calf’s already taxed immune system.

“In extreme cold swings—like when you just have a cold front coming through—I would try to avoid vaccinating,” Dr. Nagorske advised. “The vaccine is just an extra stress on that animal, an extra pull on the immune system.”

She compares it to human behavior. “We’re not going to go in to get our flu shot when we’re really sick because it’s just going to tip us over the edge.”

Vaccines work by stimulating an immune response, which requires energy and healthy physiological conditions. Dr. Nagorske recommends staggering vaccinations and waiting until temperatures stabilize.

The role of the caregiver: “You’re the Mom now”

Above all, Dr. Nagorske underscores the importance of hands-on, proactive care in the early days of a calf’s life.

“You’re the mom right now,” she said, addressing producers. “Anything you can think of to reduce exposure for that calf during its first day of life… is the most important.”

Cold weather dairy calf management isn’t just about weathering the storm—it’s about providing the nutrition, warmth and care newborn calves need to thrive.

As Dr. Nagorske reminds us, “Those little babies just don’t have much to them.”

By staying vigilant and prepared, producers can ensure their calves get the best possible start, even in the harshest of climates.