Quick! What's "Normal" for a calf's
1. temperature 2. respiration rate 3. heart rate?
This little quiz is aimed at making us think for a momment, "Just what do I consider "normal" for my calves?
In a brief article, "Know a calf's vital signs," Maureen Hanson summarized these numbers for us (Dairy Herd magazine, April 2020, p22).
TEMPERATURE
100 to 102.5 F rectal - digital thermometers are in common use now.
RESPIRATION RATE
36-60 breaths per minute - just watching the rise and fall of the body cavity.
HEART RATE
100-140 beats per minute. "Easily accessible arteries are located at the base of the tail and under the jaw. Keep in mind heart rate will increase when calves are moved or otherwise highly active, so attempt to measure resting heart rate for an accurate assessment."
Did you remember all three "normal" rates?
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