Quickly stimulate at-risk calves to get them on their feet and eating
By Mike Reid, PhD
The use of caffeine to stimulate the body is commonplace, with many of us feeling unable to start the day without the morning coffee hit. But why is this? How did it come to be that caffeine can impact largely on alertness and ability to function?
Uses for caffeine
The use of caffeine in premature neonatal human infants has been in practice for more than 40 years. Science has shown caffeine can be used to minimize the risk of death due to apnea, which causes the infants to have a reduced heart rate and slower breathing, reducing oxygen flow to the body. The use of caffeine in this manner has been proven safe and effective. In fact, it is one of the top five treatments given to newborns. There are multiple effects of caffeine at the biological level, including the blocking of adenosine (which is the neurotransmitter which causes lethargy), supporting the formation of healthy nerve fibers, reducing pulmonary inflammation, increasing the pumping ability of the heart, and consequently increasing blood pressure.
In agriculture, naturally occurring sources of caffeine can be used in calves that are at risk, such as following dystocia (difficult calving), calves being hypothermic (born in a cold environment) or being run down from a stressful event such as disease or calving. These calves are often depressed, hypoxic (low blood oxygen) and facing challenges in the form of inflammation that can result from a long-labored birth.
At this young age, having inflammation can impair suckle response, time to stand, and colostrum uptake and thereby reduce the chance of the calves reaching their full potential. There are many methods which are used to support these calves such as heat lamps, bringing them into the house to warm up, putting them in warm baths and giving them a supplement that may not be necessarily designed or legal for calves.
As well as reducing this risk of the challenges mentioned above, the use of caffeine has shown to have beneficial effects on lung development, neural and brain development and it has saved calves where otherwise, it is unlikely they would have survived.
Caffeine use has shown beneficial effects on lung development and neural and brain development.
TechMix has developed Calf Perk®, which contains a naturally occurring source caffeine as well as other antioxidants, to support at-risk calves in these critical times. Calf Perk is an easy-to-use, immediate energy boost for newborn calves. The ingredients contained in Calf Perk naturally stimulate increased respiration, increased body temperature and blood flow to support improved suckle response, colostrum uptake and reduce the risk of inflammation. It is administered orally and its unique, patent pending, formula ensures rapid absorption.
Article first published in DCHA Heifer Notes. Read the article here