Stillbirth in Calves
What Every Dairy and Beef Farmer Needs to Know
Calf stillbirth is defined as the death of a foetus before or during calving at full term. It remains one of the most significant and costly challenges in dairy and beef production, with first-lactation heifers at considerably greater risk than older, more experienced cows. In fact, the incidence of stillbirth in second and later lactations is typically half that seen in heifers — making heifer management and pre-calving nutrition a critical priority for any herd looking to reduce losses and improve calving outcomes.
Proper mineral nutrition in the weeks leading up to calving plays a proven role in reducing the risk of stillbirth, difficult calvings and weak calves. TERRA NutriTECH’s precision mineral programmes are designed to support the transition cow through this critical period — giving both dam and calf the best possible chance of a safe, healthy calving.
Symptoms and Signs of Calf Stillbirth
Identifying the warning signs of stillbirth risk early is key to reducing losses at calving time. The primary indicator of a stillborn calf is death occurring before or during calving at full term. However, there are a number of associated signs that farmers should be aware of and monitor closely during the calving season:
- No signs of life at birth — the calf is delivered without breathing, movement or a detectable heartbeat
- Absent suckling reflex — no suckling response present at or shortly after birth is a key early indicator of a compromised calf
- Limpness and lack of muscle tone — a calf delivered without any muscle tone or postural response requires immediate assessment
- Swelling or discolouration — swelling or discolouration of the calf’s head or tongue, particularly following a prolonged or assisted calving, can indicate foetal distress prior to delivery
- Delayed or absent placental expulsion — retained foetal membranes in the dam following delivery are commonly associated with difficult or stillbirth calvings and require prompt veterinary attention
- Prolonged dystocia — signs of a difficult or extended calving prior to delivery significantly increase the risk of foetal death and should trigger immediate intervention
- Weak or absent response to stimulation — a calf that fails to respond to physical stimulation immediately after birth requires urgent resuscitation attempts
Early intervention, close calving supervision and a well-structured pre-calving mineral programme are among the most effective steps farmers can take to reduce the incidence of stillbirth and support safer, healthier calvings across the herd. Correcting deficiencies in key minerals such as selenium, iodine and magnesium in the weeks before calving can make a measurable difference to calving outcomes and calf survival rates.
Causes of Calf Stillbirth in Dairy and Beef Herds
The causes of stillborn calves are varied and can be influenced by factors relating to both the calf and the dam. Setting aside genetics, key contributing causes include:
- Overfat cows and heifers — excess body condition at calving increases the risk of dystocia and calving complications, particularly in first-lactation heifers
- Insufficient space in housing — overcrowded or poorly designed calving facilities can lead to stress, injury and difficult calvings
- Injury — trauma to the dam during late pregnancy can directly impact foetal survival
- Mineral deficiencies — inadequate levels of magnesium, selenium and iodine during the transition and calving period are strongly associated with increased stillbirth risk, weak calves and poor uterine function at calving
- Prolonged or unassisted difficult calvings (dystocia) — delayed intervention during a difficult calving significantly increases the risk of foetal death
- Infections and disease — certain viral and bacterial infections during pregnancy, including BVD, leptospirosis and salmonella, can contribute to foetal death and stillbirth
- Stress in late pregnancy — environmental or nutritional stress in the weeks before calving can compromise foetal development and calving outcomes
Addressing mineral deficiencies in the transition period is one of the most impactful and controllable steps a farmer can take to reduce stillbirth rates. TERRA NutriTECH’s precision mineral programmes are formulated to correct deficiencies in magnesium, selenium, iodine and other key minerals — supporting safer calvings and healthier calves across your herd.
The Hidden Cost of Calf Stillbirth — Why Prevention Pays
The impact of a stillborn calf extends far beyond the immediate loss of the calf itself. The downstream effects on the dam and overall herd performance can be significant and long-lasting:
- Increased culling and mortality risk — cows that experience a stillbirth are at considerably greater risk of being culled or dying during the subsequent lactation, representing a serious threat to herd retention and replacement costs
- Severely disrupted fertility — days open can increase by up to 88 days in cows that had stillborn calves compared to those that delivered live calves, dramatically extending the calving interval and reducing the number of productive days in the season
- Reduced milk production — the stress and health challenges associated with a difficult calving or stillbirth frequently result in lower milk yields during the subsequent lactation
- Increased veterinary and intervention costs — retained foetal membranes, metritis and other post-calving complications are more common following stillbirths, driving up treatment costs and labour demands
- Knock-on impact on six-week in-calf rate — with days open increasing by up to 88 days, achieving tight calving patterns and hitting seasonal breeding targets becomes significantly more difficult
The true cost of stillbirth is rarely reflected in the value of the calf alone. When fertility losses, culling risk, veterinary costs and reduced production are factored in, the financial impact on a dairy or beef enterprise can be substantial. A robust pre-calving mineral programme targeting magnesium, selenium and iodine deficiencies is one of the most cost-effective investments a farmer can make to protect both cow and calf at this critical time.
Stillbirth in Calves – Solutions
- Cows should be at a target BCS of 3.5 at calving and heifers should be well developed and mature at calving.
- Moving the cow more than two days prior to calving can lead to shorter calving duration, reduced level of assistance and a lower risk of difficult calving and stillbirths when compared to moving cows in the early stages of calving.
- Calving supervision and intervention when needed can reduce the rate of stillbirths.
- Minimise losses by ensuring that all cows receive an accurate dose of a quality pre-calver mineral blend for 6-8 weeks pre-calving.
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